Niqab ban... why is it always about clothing?

Assalam alaikum & Peace to all

Came across this article on the banning of Niqab in Egypt

Egypt cleric 'to ban full veils'

The niqab has become increasingly popular among Egypt's Muslim radicals

Egypt's highest Muslim authority has said he will issue a religious edict against the growing trend for full women's veils, known as the niqab.

Sheikh Mohamed Tantawi, dean of al-Azhar university, called full-face veiling a custom that has nothing to do with the Islamic faith.

Although most Muslim women in Egypt wear the Islamic headscarf, increasing numbers are adopting the niqab as well.

The practice is widely associated with more radical trends of Islam.

The niqab question reportedly arose when Sheikh Tantawi was visiting a girls' school in Cairo at the weekend and asked one of the students to remove her niqab.

The Egyptian newspaper al-Masri al-Yom quoted him expressing surprise at the girl's attire and telling her it was merely a tradition, with no connection to religion or the Koran.

I don't think this is a good idea... I don't like when people start banning things - headscarf or niqab or anything. Don't we have a right to wear what we want? Be it a full or half or no covering (I'm just trying to make a point) it's ultimately between me and my creator what I wear or don't wear? Ahhh sigh why is it that women and Islam always come down to what 'we are wearing/or not wearing' ?? I would love to see articles that promote the 5 pillars, and celebrate when women live up to those instead of hijab, niqab, etc!

I would love your thoughts and ideas on these topics!

Strangers striving for Allah

Assalam alaikum & Peace to all

Come and join this new forum for Sisters (only) inshallah
it will be 'open' to read for 1 week and then it will become a private
group. I am looking forward to having some good chats inshallah!
Its all about sisters helping out sisters, exchanging information,
laughs, struggles. Let's make online less strange and come together!

Women & the Mosque

Assalam alaikum & Peace to all

I just came across this website and found this article...I really like what it has to say. Please read it and let me know what you all think (I have only pasted a portion of the article...click the title of the article to read the whole thing!)

An Eid gone awry

January 20, 2009 by Roberta D
Filed under Featured, Women's Rights

I’d ironed my abaya and scarf the night before, and set multiple wake-up alarms on my cell phone. About half an hour after fajr ended, I headed out of the apartment to the cozy mosque up the street where I often pray on weekends. I was extra excited because although I’d been living in İstanbul for over a year, I had been out of the country for the last few Eids, meaning it would be my first Eid prayer in Turkey.

As I rounded the corner, quietly reciting the Eid takbeer, I reminded myself that I would probably be one of very few women there. Turkish women don’t traditionally attend Eid or Friday prayers at the mosque; it’s just not the cultural practice. But I knew from my own experience that there were usually a handful of younger women that showed up for the khutbah on Fridays, and their numbers were steadily if slowly growing.

With that image in mind, I ignored the stares of the couple of men standing around near the entry to the mosque complex and scanned the mosque courtyard for any women as I took off my shoes. None. When I entered the mosque itself, it was more of the same: Though the mosque was by no means full, there were only men in it. The building’s construction is such that the women’s prayer area is actually in a separate room to the right, so I headed there. I walked in, and it looked mostly empty except someone I saw out of the corner of my eye sitting way in the back. Success — almost.

I was putting my shoes away when I realized that there was a man sitting in the front of the room. Hmm… I looked toward the back, where I thought I had seen an old woman as I walked in, but no, he was actually an old man. I sighed, having expected at least one other woman to be there, and at the very least no men in the women’s section! More than a little deflated, I went to collect my shoes and head out. In the same space of time it had taken me to figure out that this wasn’t going to work out as planned (maybe 10 seconds) it seems that the men in the mosque had come to the same conclusion. An older man rushed into the women’s section, and (assuming the combination of brown skin and an abaya meant I was an Arab) began shouting “Laa! Laa! Laa! [No, no, no!]” and gesticulating frantically. I left, undergoing a second round of stares on my way out of the mosque, through the courtyard, and out the main entrance. So much for my first Eid prayer in Turkey!

So much for the Eid prayer … and so much for the Sunnah too:

I think that this is such an important thing to discuss for women in Islam.
I have to relate a wonderful thing that happened to me and I can only pray that other Imams will be so open minded and equal. I went for Taraweeh prayers and mashallah the mosque was absolutely full of worshipers, the Sisters area was a balcony and it was full. I ended up sitting on the stairs along with many other Sisters, we were all wondering how we were going to offer the prayers? So then the Iman told the men to come up more to the front to make room for the Sisters, then he invited us to come down and pray behind the men. Mashallah I stood up and practically ran, because I so much wanted to experience a prayer service where I was on the same level as the Iman and could see him and hear him properly! So Mashallah that Taraweeh was a very special one for me. I really think there has to be more discussion and willingness to provide a space for women, even better if it is all in the same room!

Just found one more article...

S.F. mosque drops gender barrier -- worshipers are still adjusting

San Francisco's largest mosque -- a Tenderloin refuge for more than 400 Muslims -- has taken the revolutionary step of removing the 8-foot wall separating male and female worshipers.

No other Bay Area immigrant mosque has torn down such a barrier, several Muslim leaders said, and the move is rare in the United States. But leaders at the Islamic Society of San Francisco, citing the opinions of scholars, say Islam provides no justification for the partitions that separate men and women in most immigrant mosques around the country.

Women's Dress - Part 2

Assalam alaikum & Peace to all

Just a continuation of the last post - where I posed a question about why women must cover their heads for Salah. These are some of the quotes I have read.

The fact that a woman’s clothing should cover all of her body whilst praying is indicated by the hadeeth of Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her) who was asked about what clothes a woman should pray in. she said: “She should pray in a khimaar (head cover) and a long chemise that covers the tops of her feet.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 639

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah does not accept the prayer of a woman who menstruates (i.e., an adult woman) unless her head is covered.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 641; al-Tirmidhi, 377; Ibn Maajah, 655; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7747.
http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/32993/why%20covered%20for%20prayer

All schools of law agreed that women shoul cover their heads in the prayers. According to Aisha’s relation, when Asma, Abu Bakr’s daughter, entered the Prophet’s presence with a thin cloth on her, the Prophet turned his face away an said: “O Asma! When a woman reached the age of puberty –pointing at his face and hands-, with the exception of this and that, she should not be seen –by the strangers. (Abu Dawud, Libas, 34). In another tradition: “God does not accept the woman’s prayer bareheaded when she reached the age of puberty.” (Hakim el-Neysaburi, Mustadrak, I, 251; Abu Dawud, Salat, 85, no: 641, I, 422; Tirmidhi, Salat, 277, no: 377, II, 215; Ibn Maja, Tahara, 132, no: 655, I, 214; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, VI, 150, 218, 259.
http://www.diyanet.gov.tr/english/karar.asp?id=7&sorgu=1

So there you go... that is what I have found regarding this.

I found something interesting in one of the 'answer' sections...
It was a question about women wearing pants

Based on this, it is not permissible for a woman to wear tight clothes that show her ‘awrah, such as pants or trousers.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
Even if they are wide and opaque, because they distinguish one leg from the other, so they do not cover properly. Moreover there is the fear that this makes women resemble men, because pants are a man’s garment. End quote.

Now I find this interesting... because many women do wear pants, loose ones, but I know that there is that fear of imitating the opposite sex - so this is my other question - Do you wear pants and if so are you worried about imitation?

Women's Dress

Assalam alaikum & Peace to all

Muslim women struggle with a range of issues, none of them more prominent than that of hijab and of being modest (usually concerning clothing only)
I get upset when Islam is reduced to the fact of 'hijab or no hijab' when there are so many other important issues and concerns. While perusing the 'net' I came across one of the best articles to explain why women are told to cover and be modest. It answered so many of my concerns and questions - subhanallah - I am glad to have found such an enlighting article!

http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/dress/hijab.html

Here are some quotes from the article

These are the only verses which address the issue of clothing so specifically. Clearly, the basic principle is that of modesty. The first verse emphasizes the importance of one guarding her or his modesty, lowering one’s gaze in order to remain pure. This means that, in order for women and men to have respectful relationships (such as at work or school, etc.) they must focus on modesty in their behavior. This is enhanced by dressing in a way that reinforces one’s image as a modest person. It must be emphasized that behavior and appearance are both important in setting the tone of respectful interaction between men and women.

Interestingly, the Qur’an is really not that explicit about the exact definition of modest dress. By reading the Qur’anic verses above, women are advised to cover their breasts and put on their outer garments in a way that enables them to avoid harassment. In addition, women are advised not to draw attention to their "beauty" (zeenah). This term has been translated as both beauty and ornaments (as women used to strike their feet to draw attention to hidden ornaments such as ankle bracelets). Of note is that the Qur’an uses the term zeenah elsewhere, perhaps showing that in different contexts the word has slightly different meanings:
O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel (zeenah) at every time and place of prayer…(7:31)

The exact rules defining women’s dress have been determined based on interpretation of these verses and incorporation of concepts established in hadith. The inclusion of a head covering is derived from interpretation of the word khimar in 24:31 above. Most translators and commentators agree that this was a loose scarf worn at the time of the Prophet (pbuh) which covered a woman’s head, neck and possibly shoulders, leaving the rest exposed. Women were thus ordered to use the khimar to cover their breasts. Naturally, a woman would continue to cover her neck, head and shoulders and would then also cover her breast. This understanding of the khimar as a head-covering explains why Muslims believe that the Qur’an tells us to cover our hair. The injunction, however, regarding covering the hair in addition to everything else is implied, not specified in the Qur’an.

When reviewing both Qur’an and hadith, there is no precedence for how to deal with such violations; the Prophet (pbuh) or his wives and companions simply reminded others to follow the guidelines. Not a single example of violence, imprisonment, humiliation or coercion can be found during the lifetime of the Prophet (pbuh)that would imply that such practices today are consistent with his example.

The Qur’an also says "There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256). Those who choose to behave a certain way as a reflection of their belief in God and His message and thus accept the challenges therein are not the same as those who behave to satisfy other people or laws set in place. The freedom and ability to choose to do good make the reward that much greater.

One thing though... which I am too sleepy to research right now is why we have to wear a scarf to pray? We are at home in the privacy of our husbands, family so why is it a mandate to wear it?? Anyone know the answer to that I would greatly appreciate it!

Vitamin D deficiency in Muslim women

Assalam alaikum & peace to all

Came across these articles recently about how there is a high number of Muslim women who are
vitamin D deficient.
High Bone turnover in Muslim women with vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency and Muslim Women

I think more research is in order to prove or disprove all this information. It is an interesting idea and a scary one as well. I think that many women who are completely covered forget that they do need to absorb sunlight to remain healthy. I'm not saying that you should uncover and walk around the streets, but perhaps keep in mind when you are alone and if you have access to a private backyard to 'soak up the sun' !!

Thoughts on these are always welcome!

Hijab of the heart

Hijab is not only a piece of fabric that is draped across a Muslim woman's head, it is so much more.

“Allah wishes to lighten the burden for you; for certainly man has
been created weak!” (An-Nisa’: 28)

Certainly the Hijab covers our bodies from the leers and stares that men will enflict on a woman. It is a protection but above all it is a sign for the people that this woman is a Muslim.
Most women know that the Hijab is a covering; a headscarf covering the head and shoulders, a loose garment covers the body, but do Muslim women know that there is a Hijab of words and actions?

"Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right,
forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. (3:110)

As muslims we are told to enjoin the good and forbid the evil, we are fulfilling that by wearing the hijab, our outward appearence is modest - but are our actions and words modest as well?

Hijab of the heart - lets look at that for a moment and think of what that really means?
Hijab in definition is a 'covering', we cover our hearts from the evil of the world from affecting our hearts and minds. We are immediately identified as being Muslilms from wearing
the Hijab so therefore it is our great responsibility to show people what that exactly means.
Hijab of the heart, mind & speech is the final aspect of modesty - I mean lets face it many women do not know the true meaning of why they are wearing the Hijab.
It is a commandment from Allah;

"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 (must ordinarily) appear thereof..." (24:31)

These women will say they are following Allah's commands, which is true, but then only moments later you will perhaps see that woman engaged in lies, or backbitting, or acting in an immodest way all while wearing the headscarf.
Now that is not correct, yes they are observing Hijab, but in terms of 'fabric' only.
The complete package of Hijab will reflect the Muslim woman's thoughts, actions, and speech - one is not complete without the other. The piety of a Muslim woman will show in all of her actions, not in just the one single act of wearing a scarf on her head, if it were only that simple!

The Muslim woman will keep her modesty in all areas of her life, within her community and within the confines of her home. She will show other women perhaps of differing faiths as well as her own 'sisters' the beauty of a complete Hijab. She becomes an example to all women of how they should be acting in their community and in effect how they should be
acting world wide.

"On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear.
It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray:)
"Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not
on us a burden Like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord!
Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear.
Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness.
Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; Help us against those
who stand against faith." (2:286)

Keep your modesty always, in thoughts, actions and words. Show to the people the true face of the Muslim woman, and let all the world see what true faith and obedience mean. Let all the world see when you walk to the mosque wearing your Hijab that you are going to give worship to your Lord. Let all see when you bend down to console a crying child the compassion in your heart. Let your family see your devotion when you prostrate yourself infront of your Lord and offer sincere rembrance of Allah in the early light of dawn.
Let all see that you are a woman of faith and love.

Piety unveiled...

Let's see what does the above title conjure up in your mind? Hmm...let me try to guess a few responses. First perhaps you might think it is about veiling. Second guess, about piety. Well, its neither really. Let me start with looking at what piety means:
pi·e·ty (p-t)n. pl. pi·e·ties 1. The state or quality of being pious, especially:

a. Religious devotion and reverence to God.

Yes, it is a reverence to God, to be devoted and revere God - most Muslims will struggle the rest of their lives to reach a high level of piety, Inshallah we all can strive towards this, nothing wrong with that.
Now, back to my original question, rather answer. For a few days now, well in reality its been a few months, something has been running around in my head, an incident that happened to my husband actually. It was the time during Ramadan, close to the end of it and we were meeting with another couple to break our fast.

Ok, before I begin let me start with a bit of a background about this couple well, really the wife, lets call her Mrs.S. My husband and Mr. S. are friends, so naturally me and Mrs. S. are expected to be friends too, I have no problem with that and think that Mrs. S. is friendly and likeable - she also wears hijab; scarf & abaya. Now I mention that she wears these items only to make a point, which I will come to later on in the story. When we visit we keep to separate parts of the apartment - men in one room us women and child (Mashallah, she has a cute 1yr old son) in another room - once again I have no problem with this, if she feels this is necessary and feels more comfortable then by all means! She knows that I am a convert and has mentioned in the past that she can help with Quran and recitations, etc, I was happy and thanked her. Every time we meet I can't but help thinking that she has really got it 'all together', she came from a family that was not very religious and she has now incorporated a more religious lifestyle - I kind of felt she was a very dedicated Muslimah - I am sure that she is and I would never imagine saying she was not - but slowly my perceptions were eroding away into reality.

Now back to my story.
That same night we were there for Iftar and it came time to pray, she said "do you mind?" I of course said, "no why would I mind?" I was too shy and to ask her if I could say Salah with her, so I just sat in the corner of the room on the floor and watched her discretely, wishing that I would have had more courage to tell her that I wished to pray as well. She came back from doing her washing and I sat there thinking that I will just follow along in my heart the words and movements to what she is doing, at least in a small way I could participate. So she starts, and I start in my head with "Allahu akbar, Bismillahir rahmannir rahim, Alhamduillah ..." and I kid you not she was already doing the rukoo (bowing) so I stopped my recitation and just started to watch her more closely and I just could not believe how fast she was doing the prayers! Now, I do understand the longer you have been performing the prayers the faster it must go since you know the recitations so well, but I just could never imagine doing it so fast - it some how looses a bit of the 'feeling'. I take Salah as the part of the day to slow down and contemplate the day and above all thank God for everything he has given to me - can it be meaningful and heartfelt in just 5 minutes (She was doing Isha prayer). When I told my husband he said that out in the other room he had experienced much the same scenario, Mr. S. was doing speed praying as well. Needless to say it dimmed my thoughts on her - I hate to say it but is doing the 5 prayers quickly better than doing maybe 1-2 slowly and heartfelt? I realize this is entirely between God and the individual but still it nagged at my heart for a long time, even now when I think back on it. There was one more small incident that happened, and I shudder to relate this for fear that it may constitute backbiting, but I just need to get it out in the open (venting a bit I suppose) and may God forgive me if it sounds like backbiting. It was time to give donations, and we gave our zakat the 2.5% due of all Muslims. Mr and Mrs. S. are very active in a certain community and they give quite frequently to that organization, now hubby dear is not really apart of that community but he has donated in the past to this organization. Well , Mrs. S. felt that my hubby had to donate more and proceeded to tell him this, in a very demeaning manner - basically she informed him that as a man he should be giving more money , and that she as a woman was donating at least the same amount he had pledged. Ok, jaw to the floor , I mean really was that necessary and was that the best way of saying it? Needless to say that hubby felt hurt by the remark and did not say anything else to her. Another chip, another break in my perception of 'piety' - I should have know better than to base my perceptions on clothing and outward appearances, Mashallah I feel a bit more relieved and stronger in my faith, realizing that we all have our struggles!

I am an inquisitive woman...

who just happens to be Muslim and a convert to Islam!! Now if that doesn't get your attention...nothing will !! I won't bore you with the long story of how I became a Muslim, its a good story (In my opinion... all stories are good and interesting!) but it is a not the main focus for what I want to accomplish in this blog. Ok, so you may ask, what do you want to accomplish in this blog??
Good questions, I want to relate my struggles as a convert, (yawn), "ok so you're another Muslim who is confused about changing religions" blah blah... (yawn.)
I can hear you saying that, but here is the kicker...I'm going to tell you exactly what my struggles are, not just candy coat the thing and say " oh well I will get over it, its just another struggle... ho hum" Oh no my friends, I will tell you exactly my thoughts feelings and opinions on everything I have gone through! You may also ask, "why do this, why expose to the web all your faults and mistakes?" Well, simple answer: I need to write about it and some of you new Muslims need to hear it too, ready?

WE ARE NOT PERFECTLY KNOWLEDGEABLE AS SOON AS WE SAY OUR SHAHADA!

Through my many web searches and studies in Islam one thing strikes me always, I never see the 'real' stories of how people struggle with daily life.I want to hear about how hard it is to pray at work, or how hard it is to wear the hijab, as well as hear the good stories of how "yes, I finally was able to pray without my notes" Now, I also realize there is this small aspect of Islam that says you should not really reveal your weakness' (I'm not sure of where I saw this first, I'll have to research it more, but I definitely feel that most people do adhere to this rule)
Well, I'm going to go against that only because I feel its so important for people to see the 'humanity' of the person who is living with this.
I'm not advocating living an Islamic life that goes against all its basic tenants...like the ever popular and totally drawn out debate about hijab.
As well the 'you must pray 5 times a day, right away as a new Muslim, and no you cannot use your notes and yes it must be in Arabic and you must above all pronounce it correctly!" Look, we've all been in these situations and you are where you are in your Islamic
journey, if that means that you are not at a place in your faith to wear hijab, I want you to still feel you are a Muslim (shock) that you are on a path of discovery and learning, just like the rest of us. I want you to know that prayer is one of the basic requirements of Islam, and yes it is incumbent on all Muslims to offer the prayer 5 times a day (not debatable) but I also want you to know that it is ok to be a beginner
and you will have difficulties in memorizing, pronouncing, and even performing your prayers - but that God is all-wise and all-forgiving and above all He is the only one who knows your intentions. So now that you know what my blogs will be about...I hope you will join
me in my struggles and joys. (yes, I am not only going to write about 'bad' experiences!)

Fi aman illah - In God's protection