Someone asked me about my thoughts on Organica's post: "Niqab: Is it Veiling the True Message of Islam" Organica's . I didn't have time to write a response but Nida http://theidealmuslimah.blogspot.com/ did, and her's says everything I would have said anyway. The only thing I would add is this hadith to give glad tidings to all my Muslim sisters practicing hijab: be it khimar, jilbab, and or niqab... On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Islam began as something strange and will return as something strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers." The rest was said best by Nida. So I am re-posting Nida's response to Organica's post:
Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou follow their form of religion. Say: "The Guidance of God,-that is the (only) Guidance." Wert thou to follow their desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither Protector nor helper against God. (Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:120)
This is My Response to Organica's Post Titled: "Niqab: Is it Veiling the True Message of Islam?"
It seems, from what I have gathered - that your main concern and focal question in this post is "for what good? And for what benefit?" You [Organica] proclaim your understanding of the reasons as to why sisters wear the Niqaab and for what purpose, yet you really do NOT! I am sorry! Normally, I do not take the time to respond to such claims, but when it is coming from another muslim, it is quite troubling, and I believe it should be addressed.
If your main concern is with the criticism the image of the niqaab generates within the west, then we shouldn't be practicing Muslims in the first place - since Islam itself generates criticism within this part of the world. Anything Islamic raises eyebrows. Discrimination against Islam is nothing new, nor is islamophobia. It existed ever since the advent and spread of Islam, be it in the form of European Orientalism, or blunt, misinformed and offensive remarks by the general ignorant peoples of the West.
At one point, during the middle ages, the orientalists called us Muslims - "Muhammadans" - therefore generating general stereotypes and bad images of Muslims through the use of vulgar propaganda about our prophet (upon whom may be peace). Should we have then stopped following the sunnah of our prophet and left Islam just because of such baseless claims about our prophet? The early Islamic generations were not as weak, as we are today. They did not let those stereotypes reconsider their faith in Allah subhanu wa ta'ala nor the teachings of our prophet peace be upon him. So you ask "for what good?" They did so for the good of Islam - for the good of the Muslim Ummah!
Today's sisters who are strong enough to observe the niqab, despite the false stereotypes created in the media and general public about them are the carriers of our deen. They do it for Allah subhanu wa ta'ala first and foremost, and they do it for the Ummah. Why should they appease those false stereotypes? Why should they become apologetic for the wrong that has been done onto them? Why should Muslims keep apologizing for the wrong images that are being created about them? It is like rubbing salt onto an already open wound.
I believe that Muslims can perfectly integrate into Western society. Islam is nothing new in the West! It has been here and continues its integration process since the eleventh century. Today's popular thesis about the inevitable "clash of civilizations" is arguably very flawed. If it wasn't for Islam, the West would have never seen the light of the reformation period and sprung into enlightenment. Islam existed within the west for centuries. So how can we claim that Islam is completely unfathomable in the West?I concur, it is very difficult for a Muslim to practice his or her faith in it's purity within a modern Western environment, however it is a struggle, and not impossible. Sisters in niqab are a perfect example of that.
I believe that Niqab, or at the very least hijab, in the West is even more necessary then in Arab/Muslim countries. Hijab/Niqab is a form of identity. It is a Muslimah's uniform. It is something by which we are recognized as Muslims in the West - and this is very important knowing how much the prophet peace be upon him stressed for us to be differentiated from the non-Muslims. Al-Tirmidhi reported that the Messenger of Allah salallahu alleyhi wa salam said: "He is not one of us who imitates people other than us. Do not imitate the Jews and Christians." According to another narration he said, "Whoever imitates a people is one of them." (Reported by Imaam Ahmad)
Furthermore, it is a form of struggle/jihad for the muslim women themselves. It is a constant reminder of one's Islamic identity; therefore one constantly strives to please Allah subhanu wa ta'ala and tries to refrain from doing evil.- you say for what good? For the good of bettering oneself, and her relationship with the All Mighty.
So Muslimahs do it for the benefit of their Creator, themselves, their faith, and their community.
Again, I have to ask, why should it be their fault that this kid got scared, when his/her mother did not explain Islam well enough to him/her. If niqab itself was that scary, then all Muslim children should be suffering from shock syndrome, since their mothers are under the veil almost 24/7! I say all of this niqaab phobia business is a bunch of loaded uncouth propaganda!
Peace!BY NIDA http://theidealmuslimah.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-response-to-organicas-post-niqab-is.html
And since Organica disabled comments on her blog post I wanted to respond to this commentator. Nadia wrote: I totally agree with you on every tiny thing you said [and Organica said that the issue was dawah and Islam in the West in her post---not the Gulf]. I rarely see Niqab in Canada but when I do, I usually feel ashamed, because people look at these women and think 'Fundamentalist'. A girl in long jeans and a long shirt with a bright hijab on who holds open the door for you and smiles is the friendlier true face of Islam. Most women who wear niqab don't have a choice. In most cases, especially here in the Middle East, it's not about religion or connection to Allah, it's more about family and culture. One of my best friends grew up without Niqab, studied in the UK (with her Hijab), came back to the Middle East, and got a job as a university lecturer. A modest, quiet, intelligent girl. She got married a couple of years later to an educated intelligent man, and despite all his promises to her before the wedding, he immediately forced her to wear Niqab because he didn't want other men to see her face, and he forced her to stop work. I've seen this scenario so many times! Is it religion or jealousy?
My response.... Nadia: you said that niqab shouldn't be worn in the west, right, but then you bring up cultural issues of Muslim women being forced to wear it by their husbands in the Gulf, which is a different subject entirely than the woman that wants to wear it as part of her religion IN THE WEST, which is what Organica acknowledged. No offense, but any woman stupid enough to do something NOT based in her religion by her husband is a weak idiot. I won't let anyone force me to do, or NOT to anything I don't believe in. I want to wear niqab in the West for my Creator. My husband doesn't want me to wear it [he thinks it is mustahaab but that means wearing it where there is less struggle to hom], I am not being forced, and in my experience, because I have time for people, I get to give people alot of dawah about my niqab and other islamic issues. I have gotten it down to one minute, explaining fiqh, hijab, obedience to Allah. I have seen ignorant men that just wanted to scream at me stop that and thank me for teaching them that I want to be valued solely for my actions in society, not my ability to charm by beauty of facial dexterity. Don't be a weak idiot and let a man run your life. That is your own fault if you won't live according to the sunnah and your conivctions rather than the culture. Sure the guy is to blame too, but the woman is in a way more to blame. That is not what a Muslim woman does. She lives by her beliefs and convictions, not her own desires, but certainly by her own convictions. I think it is great tragedy when anyone is forced to wear ANYTHING against their beliefs. I would stand up for your "friend's" right not to wear niqab, but I expect you not to label me as fundamentalist because I want to wear something the Prophet's wives and some of the best women of the Sahaba DID. Of my own convictions. Of my own beliefs. Giving my own dawah. Which is more than I ever did in the West in just a headscarf.
ADD ON:
Organica, I just had to reply to this comment you made: "Muslims focus too much these days on the appearances. So what if someone lost the beard for the sake of telling people about Allah? That is better in my book than sporting the beard, short thobe and praying 5 times a day at mosque. My dear sister, you must understand your purpose on this earth. You aren't here to just cover and be happy. You are here to worship Allah and call people to worship Him."
My response is that indeed, our only purpose in this life is to worship Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala (tauhid). Salat, niqab, beards, thobes, can be part of these things. We ARE sent to warn others, but that is not as important to Allah subhanhu wa ta ala as our own perfected obedience and worship. It is said that there will be Prophets who had many followers, and prophets without a SINGLE follower on the day of judgement, and these shall be admitted to the highest seat in Jannah. Obviously the dawah is not as important as the worshipping and obedience. What are we calling people to then, if we can pick and choose of the sunnah what we wish? A beard was a command unto men from the Prophet sallalahu alahi wa salaam. Are brothers to shave theirs to get converts? If they do, what have they just taught those converts? Discard Allah's commands and what the Messenger has given you AS you will.
While I love the dawah oppurtunities my niqab affords me, I know that my personal understanding and practice of Islam comes before trying to make a good impression on others. On the day of judgement, they won't be standing with me, and I won't be measured by if they started to walk the same path I do or not. My own footsteps will spell out what has been writ for me.
For Najah: : [in disagreements between husband and wife] "...and take mutual counsel together, according to what is just and reasonable." (65:6)
“Those who hearken to their Lord, and establish regular Prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance;” (42:38)
So as you will see, the words "mutual counsel" are used MORE than once to emphasise that the woman's thoughts and wishes are also important (her husband's do not override her's unless the matters are in the religion) and if they are not the not, the Qu'ran asks both the husband and wife to do what is just and resonable. If the man's commands are unfathomable, or the wife's, or go against the rights of the other in the religion, they are not to be blindly obeyed. This of course is not an excuse to blindly use for trouble-making.
Comments
Firstly, although Organica may be respected in other ways, her opinions in this particular post do stike me as rather narrow. I mean, she seems to take a vague example to explain everything. e.g,
Why does one child getting scared by a woman in niqab (if that's truly what scared him) conclude that "Niqab is SCARY for non-Muslims--and sometimes Muslims too" ? This seems a large conclusion to jump to on the basis of one child's reaction. Perhaps the child had been indoctrinated into believing muslims to be dangerous people - this is not unlikely, lots of people seem to hold this opinion, sometimes viciously, who's to say they aren't teaching their kids the same? Or maybe just seeing something unfamiliar frightened him. My mother told me the first time she saw a black person when she was about 5 or 6, she was afraid and fascinated, she even rubbed the skin of the woman to see if the colour came off LOL but my mother wasn't and isn't racist, she was just a child who'd grown up in 50's rural England and had never seen a black person. I was afraid when I was 8 and saw a beggar in Spain without a nose. My darling brother cried with fear as a baby the first time he saw the sea.
Secondly, "The boy would have been run over if a car was passing by. Luckily there wasn't" ..lucky? no, this was the Will of Allah.
"It's a sad truth when the only thing Muslims around the world have been able to deliver about Islam is Niqab" truth? the ONLY thing? Again... a totally inaccurate view. If anyone has portrayed Muslims as 'extreme' and accompanied that description with images such as men with long beards and women in niqab - it's the MASS MEDIA. I think Organica herself has become their victim in falling for the UNTRUTH that niqab and such like is the "only thing" that Muslims have delivered to the world about Islam. If this is the case, does that mean the increasing amounts of people converting to Islam are doing so because of the niqab? Or because they want to wear a turban and a beard?
Organica is concerned about the type of message "we" are spreading about Islam these days. I entirely understand her concern, but she's pointing the finger in the wrong direction. It's not muslims spreading a twisted message (at least, not most of the time), it's NON-MUSLIMS. Governments, the media. C'mon..am I the only one who thinks that's obvious?!
As for niqabis wearing black and dark colours all the time, they don't.
She asks how western muslims intend to integrate. We do want to integrate, but on our terms, not at the expense of our beliefs and what Allah has commanded us. We can't sway from our beliefs in order to integrate with non-muslims - this is explicitly forbidden in the Qur'an and Sunnah. We have and can continue to integrate successfully without sacrificing the health and fate of our souls in the process. If this isn't accepted by non-muslims, then that's just the way it is and we have to be strong and carry on - this is JIHAD.
If that "ignorant Irish teen" held stereotypes about muslims and didn't know the basic facts, then here's your chance girl! Give Da'wah!! Not everyone is going to know about Islam beyond the images which are flashed on their TV screens. It's our responsibility to educate these people, so don't complain and blame their ignorance on other muslims. Say "alhamdulillah! now's my chance to gain some reward and may Allah guide this little teenager".
I don't wear niqab, but I'm a muslim and I'm damn well going to defend my Ummah, and all the good sisters who're making the best efforts they can.
THEY WILL NEVER EVERRRRRRRRRRRRR. AND THEY MIGHT SMILE TO YOUR FACE, THEY ARE HYPOCRITSSSSSSSSS. THEY WANT YOU TO TAKE IT OFF. THEY ARE NOT HAPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. AND WE DONT CARE IF THEY ARE NOTTTTTTTT. WE LIVE OUR LIVES. TO EACH THEIR RELIGION.
sis pixie, if you please your husband your are pleasing Allaah swt. Every muslim is obligated to obey those in authority over them. A child must obey its parents, a students its teachers, a soldier its commander etc. and yes a wife her husband. And no it is not only in matters specific to the deen.
Go read a little more.
Wasalaam
I'm currently considering the idea , but what's holding me to take the step is , i dunno...i just want to imagine a society with all their women niqabis , how will this straighten the society?? will it benefit it more as a whole as the majority of women are the same? Allah subhana Wa ta'la commanded that for Prophet(SAW) 's wives(RA) and not all women for a reason, but those who wish to follow the example of Umhat Almumnun we can't oppose them it's their choice .
I'm just now searching for the right reasons for me to take that step.
As for ppl who view niqab as an oppressed form for women , belive me it's all brainwashing mechanisim influenced on them , if they just look for the truth themselves , everything will become clear and they'll see things the way they truly are.
Juat a final request sister , could you please write more posts about your reasons for wearing niqab i wanna hear more of your views cause i do really respect them.
Of course, pleasing our husbands is pleasing to Allah, and a husband pleasing HIS WIFE, there is reward for this. In Islam, it is a mutual relationship. Not just the man says so, and the woman says yes. Don`t get me wrong. I am all for women obeying their husbands, if their husbands don`t forbid them their Islamic rights or force the women to do something rather than helping them UNDERSTAND a thing that is better for her. I am against women being doormats LOL. Or doing something against their convictions of right and wrong. If my husband wanted me NOT to wear niqab and I thought it would be wrong not to wear it, I`d be sining against Allah. If he forbid me from working (and my job is not a sin itself) then HE`D be trespassing on my Islamic rights. So I repeat Mariya. Read.
The blog she wrote about how Niqaab should not be worn in the west...well I think its very offensive and WRONG. I pray Allah (swt) blesses every woman who wears the niqaab, especially in the west. It was never said 'don't wear niqaab where there might be intolerance of it'. It is a jihad for those wearing it.
Btw, thanks for replying to other ppl's comments, because you actually cleared up a few of the questions I had on 'obeying the husband'. Do not become discouraged on posts like this, continue wearing hijab/trying to wear hijab! You are a role model for many, mashallah.
wasalaam
It is so sad to me when Muslims are facing so much trouble in the West, and most hijabis have a story or two of facing complete ignorance and/or hatred from non-Muslims- but now we have to have Muslims attacking us too?! How about instead of criticizing a sister who is doing a deed which is considered to be at least recomended and at most fard, these sisters admire the strength that it takes to do this, or criticize our Western culture that makes it so difficult to find a job, an education and other such things when wearing niqab. We need to integrate, but in order to do that we need our jobs, or education, we need to be seen as people with our own beliefs and ideas- her criticism doesn't help to achieve that.
Before I rant anymore I'm going to cut myself off here. I like this reply, thank you for posting it. :)
Cheers.
Also, we should not give up parts of our religion to please non-Muslims (or misguided Muslims). I think somebody already mentioned that :) Wearing niqab in the West is not easy, but insha'Allah it will get easier as more people learn the true reasons for it.
Nothing in the religion, or out of the religion, should be enforced. In the english translation, the Qur'an says "there is no compulsion in religion", meaning nothing is compulsory, it is our own decision to follow a certain way or not, whether we're man or woman. And we must always do it for the sake of Allah. But, having said that, I think Pixie is being a little strict on those women who's husbands may be forcing them to do or not do things. Speaking from experience, it's easy as a gentle woman (which we are) to be subjected to this and feel we have to patiently put up with it. We are told constantly to obey our husbands and given a description of the hellfire we face if we displease our husands or even his parents. A man can be manipulative, they can use the religion to justify their actions (sometimes with the best intentions) and a sister who's new to things will have to take his word for it until she can find out for herself, but sometimes the issue might be a grey area (like niqab for example) and so a conclusion can never really be reached because of differing opinions and interpretations - then the husband can say that she should obey him because the matter is not haram! Some men are threatening towards their wives: if they don't obey they'll divorce them/find another wife etc.. this threat can be enough for women in some cultures who face the prospect of an impossible life if their marriage breaks down. Some women stay with forceful husbands for their love of their children, they may be afraid their husband will take their children away from them...
So please be a little more lenient rather than using terms like "weak idiot" :-)
again jazakaAllah khayr for your post it made my day.
pixie, it is well known that a muslim woman has to obey her husband, not just in fard actions. There are numerous fatawa entailing this and it is the consensus of the scholars. She has to obey her husband in everything apart from that which is HARAM. You advised one poster here to 'go and read up' on the Qur'an where it states that "a wife does not have to obey her husband in anything that is unreasonable i.e makes no sense to her and may be harmful to her, or anything that contradicts her deen. Go read up on it." This is a very serious claim, that a wife can disobey her husband if something makes no sense and it is completely unfounded. what makes sense/doesn't make sense is completely subjective and can differ tremendously from one person to another. please can you tell me the exact ayah in the qur'an where it states that if something 'makes no sense' a wife can choose to disobey?. If you cannot find it I urge you to retract this statement, because you have said that this in Qur'an, and to make a false claim about something in the Qur'an is a big sin . i do mean this kindly and from one sister to another (i respect you alot).
In addition, you said that obedience is only in terms of religious aspects. Elsewhere you said it is shirk to do an islamic act to please your husband. this contradicts itself. So the wife has to obey her husband only in islamic affairs (and according to yourself he can only instruct her in fard), yet if she does an islamic act because her husband has told her to, she is comitting shirk? a woman might start off doing something because her husband has told her and her heart is not in it, and then she may eventually come to love it. Either way, she will be rewarded for her obedience (except in haram actions).
tbh I felt sad and dissapointed when you said that women who obey their husbands apart from in fardh issues they are stupid, weak idiots.
We are supposed to please our husbands. That is by not letting strangers into his home, guarding our modesty by not mixing with nonmaharam men, being gentle with him, patient, thoughtful, doing things that he likes (so long as they don't go against our rights in our religion such as forcing us to stop working or forcing us TO work, or forcing her to wear what he thinks is proper hijab). I mean it is his duty to advise her and give her proofs. MOst Shiekh's adise will be the following:
You have to be gentle in the way you advise her, for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah is Kind and loves kindness, and He confers upon kindness that which he does not confer upon severity and does not confer upon anything else besides it (kindness).” (Narrated by Muslim, 2593).
I will find the ayah for you you know, it does mean I have to read through the whole Qu'ran, it isn't one that is popularily quoted on blogger:D I wouldn't make something up at all, I guarantee you so don't misquote me.
I think if a woman's husband wants her to wear jilbab, khimar, niqab, ect, she should do it to please him, in the same way a husband should wear a thobe, grow a beard, go to the Mosque five times a day, help with the kids, and spend time with her, to please his wife, but in matters of religion that the purpose is to please Allah subhahu wa ta'ala, a wife cannot do an action to please her husband alone at the risk of leaving off something that could belong to Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala. DOes a man really want to be seen as something that causes more fear and awe in a woman that Allah Most High? If she wouldn't change for God, then what good is it for her to change for a man? Really. The husband should be patient and guide her to what is good for her for the sake of Allah in mattersof tahid and worship. A woman should do the same with her husband. But is it right for a woman to be like, I divorce you husband because you do not wear a thobe when she knew he did not before they married? Is it right for a woman to do the same when he knew a woman's opinion of niqab before they married? Think about it. If something IS fard to us personally we should do it even if our husband's and father's say no as a woman. Same with my husband if he wanted me to wear gloves in public to please him and he knew before we married this is not fard in my opinion. I would hate it, and do not think it is part of hijab (to me personally). Would I do it to please him? Maybe. But I CERTAINLY would NEVER call it hijab, and if he wanted to divorce me over this, I'd say see you, with no regrets. Thanks for giving me an easy out with your completely unislamic threatening and forcing in matters of way to worship.
There are some bad women out there undoubtably that take advantage of things, but men do the same. They are supposed to try to please us as well, has everybody forgotten that? It is NOT one-sided. And it doesn't pertain to matters of belief which are for Allah alone (a husband like any person should try to educate not enforce on these matters), or things that infringe on a woman's rights in Islam (which is to work if she wishes to).
In any case, I don't read her blog, I was directed to it by another sisters who had seen the post. And after reading that post I would not waste my time reading anything else she has to say.
The comments were getting out of control, but if someone is going to write such a topic they should be prepared to hear the responses, not just shut it down and close their ears.
"Verily you (O Muhammad ) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided"
And concerning women working debate:
"And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove Ar-Rijs (evil deeds and sins) from you, O members of the family (of the Prophet), and to purify you with a thorough purification."
So woman are better work at their homes or from home , but if they have to support their families financially it's then a must but i remember the example of Um alMumnun Khadija who had a business going on but she didn't go out and work to keep it going she hired RasullAllah to take care of the business , but generally speaking they should work in the fields that help other women not be exposed to men such as medicine and teaching especially about private matters.
But sometimes men mis-use the right of obedience in a shameful way!
Wa salam
Da'wah is important, giving a positive message about Islam to the West is important, but not as important as Allah SWT's approval. Instead of appeasing to the west (which is already filled with its own cultural hypocrisies), these Muslims should support their sisters for taking the extra step - they should say,"masha allah" "alhamdulillah" "may Allah bless their efforts" instead of complain based on Western biases.
It annoys me and occasionally pisses me off, to be honest, because the niqabi's are willing to struggle, hold steady onto their faith for the sake of Allah SWT and they get unnecessary grief for nothing.