Days gone by

Oh Son of Adam, you are nothing but a number of days, whenever each day passes, then a part of you has gone..

Hassan al Basri

A Voice Behind the Veil

By Khadijah Natalie Arbee

I am a muslim women. I wear the niqaab (face veil).

I'm one of those to whom the new law in France would apply. I'm one of the ones being discussed by politicians, human rights groups and the media.

I'm one of those whom many feel the need to liberate.

I'm one of those you may think is oppressed.

I'm one of those many of you detest the sight of…

I'm one of those whom you may believe is uneducated; one of the ones you may think has no voice.

But I do. So let me speak.

I am not Arab, Asian or even African. I am Australian. No, not 'first generation', 'second generation', or an immigrant. On my mother's side, I'm of French-Canadian descent, and on my father's side; British. I grew up as a Christian, and attended church occasionally. I was in the school swim team, and district netball team. I holidayed with my family in the summer on the Gold Coast, and I'm educated. I have a university degree.

When I was 18 years of age I was introduced to Islam. I studied it, and accepted it a year and a half later. By the time I reached 20, I was wearing the headscarf, and after I married I donned the niqaab.

Because of my husband? No.

My husband did not want me to wear it, although his mother and sister do, and out of respect for his wishes I didn't do so for two years. But I wanted to, and eventually did, and knowing it to be in line with our religion, my husband knew he had no authority to prevent me, and he now greatly admires my strength.

Then, I wore it because of my father? No. He's a catholic.

Because of my brother? Nope, haven't got one.

My uncle? He's an atheist.Then because of my son? My eldest is only 8 years old.

Then why??

Because I want to, that's why.

And seeing as though my niqaab does not hurt anyone, that should be sufficient reason for all of you liberals of a liberal society; I should be able to finish my discussion right here. But although it may be so for any other style of dress, it isn't enough when it comes to niqaab for some reason. You want more. So I will continue.

What makes me want to then? Two things: Faith and experience.

Faith? Yeah, faith. Faith in my Creator , faith in His decisions, faith in Islam. A deep faith. Many wander at the faith of Muslims, at their conviction and their commitment. It's a faith, that if you are not Muslim, is hard to explain or describe. The scripture of Islam, the Qur'an has scientific miracles in it, such that have captivated scientists globally, leading many to accept Islam. Moreover, the Qur'an has not been changed in over a thousand years, since it was revealed; not one letter moved from its place. I dare say there isn't a religious scripture like it, and this lends a clue as to the root of such faith.

In the Qur'an, Allah Ta'ala tells us to cover ourselves, 'so as to be known, but not molested'. So our covering is a protection; a liberation.

Protection? you ask. Liberation? From what?

This is where I move on to my second reason for veiling. Like I said, I grew up in a Western secular society, in true Western secular style. I dressed secular, lived secular, and enjoyed all the 'liberties' of such a society. Did I feel liberated, free? Suffice to say, we were taught we were, so I never thought to think otherwise. It wasn't until I became Muslim, and started covering , that I really felt liberated, and realised , before that I wasn't.

Yet, time and time again we hear it said that we Muslim women are forced to veil, are oppressed; treated by our men folk as nothing more than 'objects.' And that niqaab, burqa, hijab; whatever term you use, is a form of 'imprisonment'.

But what about the imprisonment of anxiety and depression?

What about the imprisonment of anorexia and bulimia?

What about the imprisonment of frequent rigorous exercise routines?

What about the imprisonment of always feeling the need to look like the super-model on the cover of Cosmo, or the pop-singer in the music video?

What about the slavery to fashion?

What about the entrapment of jealousy??

How many women waste their hard-earned money, destroy their physical and mental health, expose their bodies to vulnerability, abuse and extortion in order to…… in order to what??

In order to gain approval and praise. Who's approval and praise?

Men's.

And yes, it seems even other women too. So it seems non-Muslim women are not only slaves to men, but slaves to society as a whole.

Before you scream your disagreement, which many of you may do as a knee-jerk reaction to being told you're also oppressed , stop and think.
Look around you, contemplate society today, and its values, its aspirations, its goals, its direction, its past-times, its hobbies….

What good has it done for women to doff more and more clothing?

What good has it done for images of uncovered made-up women to be plastered on every billboard and magazine, on the TV, in the movies, and on the net?

Has it really brought any good for women?

The women in the images may aptly feel good about themselves for a while, but what does it mean for every other women?

Women who look upon these images usually become anxious, jealous, unsure and critical of themselves, or all of these things. Many men who view them will become aroused, or even unhappy, less satisfied with the partners they already have. What can, and does this lead to?

Cheating, dumping, chastisement, and even harassment of other women, and even children by, men who cannot find a legitimate outlet for their constant arousal. And yes, I can hear some of you; 'then the men must control themselves!' Frankly speaking that argument is well spent, not to mention futile, as most men are, inherently, only able to react to that, the same way a hungry lion would react if thrown a juicy piece of steak, and told not to eat it….

Do the uncovered women captured in these images and industries, or parading around, realise or even care how many young girls are starving, purging and stressing themselves trying to mirror their image?
No.

It seems they even take perverse pleasure in it. One barely-dressed singer even boldly and crudely sung recently, 'Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?'

What?!

What is this women and her ilk saying??

What are they implying??

What are they doing to their sisters in humanity??!

So many poor girls, eroding themselves physically and mentally as they watch with jealousy and anxiety their partners ogle singers like this.
Have the same thing occur to these women, these 'idols'; have their partners swoon over another similarly attired, and witness their reaction! And when their daughters are molested by men they themselves, or women like them, have aroused, will they reflect?

Will they act?

Will society act?

Yeah, we see it reacting: ban the burqa!

It just amazes me how many women especially, despise my choice of dress. Yet, would they rather their husband's secretary to be dressed like me or otherwise?

Would they rather the waitress serving the table at their anniversary dinner, be dressed like me or otherwise?

Is it me and my sisters who are turning their husband's head, or attracting their boyfriends??

Is it me and my sisters who have led their daughters to anorexia, or their sons to pornography?

Is it me and my sisters whose bodies and faces solicit their husband's/boyfriend's attention on every corner?

Is it me and my sisters who have aroused that man to rape or harass their sisters?

Whose mode of 'dress' is truly oppressive and harmful to women??

So now I've spoken, and although I am one, I speak on behalf of hundreds. I've explained to you that the majority of us have chosen this mode of dress, especially in the West. I have told you that we love it, we want it, and I've exemplified for you the inherent good in it.

So to those of you who really are so concerned about 'liberating' me, then you will listen to what I have said, and let me and my sisters be.

Not Equal Are They.

لاَ يَسْتَوِي أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ وَأَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ الْفَائِزُونَ

Not equal are the dwellers of the Fire and the dwellers of Paradise. It is the dwellers of Paradise that will be successful. [Hashr:20] 

وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ

Not alike are the blind (disbelievers) and the seeing (believers). [Fatir: 19]

وَلاَ الظُّلُمَاتُ وَلاَ النُّورُ

Nor are the darkness (disbelief) and the light (belief). [Fatir:20]

وَلاَ الظِّلُّ وَلاَ الْحَرُورُ

Nor are the shade and the sun’s heat. [Fatir: 21]

وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الأَحْيَاءُ وَلاَ الأَمْوَاتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُسْمِعُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَمَا أَنْتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَنْ فِي الْقُبُورِ

Nor are the living (believers) and the dead (disbelievers). Verily, Allah makes whom He wills to hear, but you cannot make hear those who are in graves. [Fatir:22]

أَفَمَنْ كَانَ مُؤْمِنًا كَمَنْ كَانَ فَاسِقًا لاَ يَسْتَوُونَ

Is then he who is a believer like him who is a Fasiq (disbeliever and disobedient to Allah)? Not equal are they. [sajdah:18]

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِ

Is one who is obedient to Allah, prostrating himself or standing (in prayer) during the hours of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the Mercy of His Lord (like one who disbelieves?)? Say: “Are those who know equal to those who know not?” It is only men of understanding who will remember. [Zumar:9]

وَمَا يَسْتَوِي الأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَلاَ الْمُسِيءُ قَلِيلاً مَا تَتَذَكَّرُونَ

And not equal are the blind and those who see, nor are (equal) those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah), and do righteous good deeds, and those who do evil. Little do you remember! [Ghafir: 58]

--

The shaytaan and his agents have waged a war on us, and we are not even aware that we are standing amidst shooting fire...

Let the Qur'aan be our guide, let the Sunnah be our wisdom.

Let the dhikr of Allah ta'aala quench our thirst, let our love for Him satiate our hunger.

Let His Mercy be our garment when it is cold, and His wrath something we never encounter. 

-

For how long shall we sleep, Oh Muslims?

Bismillaahi ar-Rahmaani Ar-Raheem

Alhamdulillaah, wasalaatu wasalaamu ‘alaa Rasoolillaah, wa ba’d:

Today, amongst the youth and other then them we have observed an unfortunate trend. We chase after certain things that do not concern us, while we shirk our basic duties as Muslims. We are content with our state, thinking that we have reached a level where, MashaAllah, we are better than others and our knowledge is complete. SubhanAllah, little do we understand that as you learn more about this beautiful deen, you realize how you actually know nothing  at all. You realize you are the most jaahil of jaahils and that your self-satisfaction was and is baseless.

During discussions, the Salafi youth often throw around terms such as “refutation” (in all its grammatical forms). Allah azza wajal  knows how weary I’ve become of this term and it’s over-use. Yes, we should steer clear of ahlul bid’ah, yes we should watch who we take our knowledge from. That is nothing new to anybody. But why does everyone feel the need to always make this the topic of discussion? Have we nothing better to talk about then other people’s Aqeedah? Are their ideologies being shoved down our very throats that it seems to be all we can talk about? The only obligation these people have on us is naseeha. If sincere naseeha has been given to them based on Qur’aan and sunnah, then leave them be. Let the scholars of jarh wa ta’deel do their job. They warn you against certain people, you take their advice on board, and you leave it at that. These drawn out discussions where everybody has something to say (which is nothing at all) are a waste of everyone’s time. I  would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that despite your differences, you are dealing with Muslims here, not kafirs. And Muslims have rights over each other.  We know that RasoolAllah  صلى الله عليه وسلم said that "The Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe.” It’s one thing to warn and be warned about the ideologies of certain speakers (without obsessing over it), but let’s not attack other things about them as well because on Yowmul Qiyaamah they sure will have a lot of ajar coming to them.

All that time you spent speaking of Fulan ibn Fulan, you could have memorized a page of Qur’aan, could have helped your parents and family members that have a haqq over you, could have cleaned the masaajid that are so badly in need of cleaning.  But we insist on wasting our time, strutting about like a peacock in all its boldness. And for what? Have we ourselves been promised Jannah that we have so much time and words to waste? No, I didn’t think so.

We need to wake up from our deep slumber, Oh Muslims! Our hearts are not getting any softer, and the Day of Reckoning is only drawing nearer.

Where is the Qur’aan? Have we all memorized the book of Allah ta’aala from cover to cover? Have we put into practice every verse we have learned? We have so much we need to do, and so little time, and even less understanding.

From Ibn 'Abbaas (radiyallaahu 'anhumaa) who said that Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: There are two blessings which many people lose: health and free time. Reported by al-Bukharee.

 For our priorities to be so bent out of shape, there is a more fundamental issue that needs to be addressed which is the issue of time. Priorities not being in order illustrate a lack of understanding that one has no time to lose. Only someone who believes they have forever to live has no sense of priority. It’s like putting on your shoes before your clothes are even on. Anybody that looks at you will think you’ve gone insane. Little do we realize this is the very same situation except that  its insanity is manifested mentally rather than physically apparent.   

I’m not expecting a Muslim utopia, as this is only dunya and one will never be completely satisfied in this wretched place, but let us at least be civil towards one another bi idnillaah. And more importantly, let us focus on our own faults before running to proclaim the faults of others.

I speak to myself before anyone else. Whatever good I have said is from Allah subaana wa ta’aala, and anything wrong is from myself and the shaytaan.    

Subhaana Rabbika Rabbil ‘izzati ‘ammaa yasifuun. Wasalaamun ‘alal Mursaleena wal hamdulillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen.

Whatever evil befalls you...

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And if some good reaches them, they say, ‘This is from Allaah,’ but if some evil befalls them, they say, ‘This is from you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم).’ Say: ‘All things are from Allaah’” [al-Nisa’ 4:78], then in the next verse He says (interpretation of the meaning): “Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allaah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself”. How can we reconcile between them? 

He replied: 

They may be reconciled by noting that the first verse refers to the decree of Allaah, i.e., it is from Allah; He is the one who decrees it. The second verse refers to the cause i.e., whatever of evil befalls you, you are the cause, and the One Who decrees evil and decrees the punishment for it is Allaah. End quote. 

Liqaa’aat al-baab il-Maftooh (no. 15, question no. 15).

The Grey Matters

Narrated By An-Nu'man bin Bashir : I heard Allah's Apostle saying, 'Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them. So whoever saves himself from these suspicious things saves his religion and his honor. And whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the Hima (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His illegal (forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart. [Bukhaari: Vol 1, Book 2. Belief. Hadith 049]

The Authority Of Abu Hurairah : I heard the messenger of Allah say : "What I have forbidden to you, avoid; what I have ordered you [to do], do as much of it as you can. It was only their excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their prophets that destroyed those who were before you."
[Related bu Bukhari and Muslim.]

The Authority Of Al-Hasan bin Ali, grandson of the messenger of Allah : I memorized from the messenger of Allah his saying : "Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt."
[Narrated by Tirmidhi and Nasa’ee, and Tirmidhi said it is true and fine hadith.]

Hypothetically, of course.

Whenever asked about a matter, Zayd b. Thâbit – Allah be pleased with him – would himself ask, “Has this happened?” If they told him that the matter had not yet occurred he would not inform them of an answer, but if they told him it had happened he would answer them.

Al-Âjurrî, Akhlâq Al-‘Ulamâ` no.81; Al-Khatîb, Al-Faqîh wa Al-Mutafaqqih Vol2. P13.

Beautify your home with al-Qur'aan

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh b. Mas’ûd – Allâh be pleased with him – said:

The house in which the Qur’ân is not recited is like a derelict house that has no one to maintain it. It is also reported that he said: Verily the emptiest of houses are those that are empty of the Book of Allâh.

It is reported that Abû Hurayrah – Allâh be pleased with him – used to say about the house in which the Qur’ân is recited:

It becomes spacious for its inhabitants, the good of it becomes plentiful, the angels come to it and the devils leave it. And the house in which the Qur’ân is not recited becomes cramped for its inhabitants, has little good in it, and the devils come to it.

Ibn Abî Shaybah, Al-Musannaf articles 30645, 30647 and 30650.