UNDERSTANDING ISLAM:PRAYER, FASTING AND CREED

August 28, 2009

BELOW IS AN EXAMPLE OF CONTENT FROM A

NICE NEW SITE

WITH GREAT CONTENT.  PLEASE VISIT IT AND

CHECK OUT ITS

LINKS AND CONTENT! :)

http://understand-islam.net/site/

- Articles on Salaah - our Prayer program demonstrates how to perform Salaah

- series of lectures describing the Salaah in details

.

Lectures on the Points of Benefit on Salaah

00- Points of Benefit on Adhaan – Call to Prayer - Saleh as-Saleh – 2:47 · 326 KB · MP3

01- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Surah Ikhlaas 112 - Saleh As-Saleh – 4:48 · 562 KB · MP3

02- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Nawafil – Voluntary Prayers - Saleh As-Saleh – 4:29 · 526 KB · MP3

03- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Regular Sunan - Saleh As-Saleh – 14:34 · 1.67 MB · MP3

05- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Sunnah Prayer in Relation to Fard - As-Saleh 7-5-1428 – 13:57 · 1.6 MB · MP3

06- Points of Benefit in Salaat – 5 Situations of Fard Changing Into Nafl — - As-Saleh – 14:02 · 1.61 MB · MP3

07- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Change of Intention During Salaah - Saleh As-Saleh – 14:24 · 1.65 MB · MP3

08- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Intention of Imaam – Intention of Follower - As-Saleh – 23:33 · 2.7 MB · MP3

09- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Differences in Intentions Imam & Ma-muum As-Saleh 24-2-1428- 49:44·5.69 MB

10- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Imaam and Ma-muum {follower} - Saleh As-Saleh – 36:10 · 4.14 MB · MP3

11- Points of Benefit in Salaat – What the Imaam Bears for the Ma-muum - As-Saleh – 12:05 · 1.38 MB · MP3

.

12- Points of Benifit in Salaah – Tawarruk and Iftiraash - Chart - Saleh As-Saleh 10-2-1428 – 10:22 · 1.19 MB· MP3

13- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Omitting Rukn Pillar – Talking in Salaah - Saleh As-Saleh – 16:40 · 1.91 MB· MP3

14- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Talking in Salaah - Saleh As-Saleh – 12:26 · 1.42 MB · MP3

15- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Ruling on Greeting One Who Is Praying - Saleh As-Saleh – 4:00 · 469 KB · MP3

16- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Additions to Prayer – Sayings – Actions — - As-Saleh – 5:58 · 700 KB · MP3

17- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Four Prayers It Is Sunnah to Delay - - Saleh As-Saleh – 2:45 · 323 KB · MP3

18- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Forbidden To Pray In These Times - Saleh As-Saleh – 20:56 · 2.4 MB · MP3

19- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Time Restricted Worship – Voluntary Abandonment As-Saleh- 2:57 · 345 KB

20- Points of Benefit in Salaat – 2 Situations of Traveler Without Wudhu - - As-Saleh – 5:17 · 618 KB · MP3

21- Points of Benefit in Salaat – What To Say Following Verses of Threat or Mercy -As-Saleh- 25:47· 2.95 MB

22- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Particular Recitations - Saleh As-Saleh – 4:38 · 543 KB · MP3

23- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Wiping on the Khufs or Socks - Saleh As-Saleh 13-2-1428 – 6:05 · 714 KB · MP3

24- Points of Benefit in Salaat – Concerning Direction of Qiblah - Saleh As-Saleh – 60:18 · 6.9 MB · MP3

25- Salaah Al Istikharah – Prayer For Guidance Saleh As-Saleh – 4:39 · 16 Kbit/s · 545 KB · MP3 - NEW

Leave a Comment » | ARTICLES, BEGINNINGS, GOD, ISLAM | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by SAKINA AND SARA

RULINGS ON FASTING FOR WOMEN

August 28, 2009

Rulings on Fasting For Women




1. A woman who has reached the age of puberty, but is too shy to tell anyone, so she does not fast, has to repent and make up the days she has missed, as well as feeding a poor person for each day, as an act of expiation for delaying her fast, if the following Ramadaan comes and she has not yet made up those days. Her case is like that of a woman who fasts the days of her period out of shyness, and does not make them up later. 

2. If a woman does not know exactly how many days she has missed, she should fast until she is fairly certain that she has made up the days she had missed and not made up from previous Ramadaans, and offer the expiation for delaying for each day. She can do this at the same time as fasting or separately, depending on what she is able to do 

3. A woman should not fast – except during Ramadaan – if her husband is present then take his permission, but if he is travelling then it does not matter. 


4. When a menstruating woman sees the white substance – which is discharged by the uterus when the period is finished – by which a woman knows that she has now become taahir (pure), she should have the intention to fast from the night before and should fast. If she does not have a time when she knows she is taahir, she should insert a piece of cotton or something similar, and if it comes out clean, she should fast, and if she starts to bleed again, she should stop fasting, whether the blood is a flow or just spotting, because it breaks the fast as long as it comes at the time of the period. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/154).

5. If the cessation of bleeding continues until Maghrib, and she has fasted with the intention from the night before, then her fast is valid. If a woman feels the movement of menstrual blood inside her, but is does not come out until after the sun has set, her fast is valid and she does not have to make the day up later.

6. If a womans period or post-natal bleeding ceases during the night, and she makes the intention to fast, but dawn comes before she is able to do ghusl, according to all the scholars her fast is valid. (al-Fath, 4/148)

7. If a woman knows that her period will come tomorrow, she should still continue her intention and keep fasting; she should not break her fast until she actually sees the blood. 

8. It is better for a menstruating woman to remain natural and accept what Allaah has decreed for her by not taking any medication to prevent her from bleeding. She should be content with what Allaah accepts from her of breaking her fast during her period and making those days up later. This is how the Mothers of the Believers and the women of the salaf were. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/151). Moreover, there is medical evidence to prove that many of the things used to prevent bleeding are in fact harmful, and many women have suffered from irregular periods as a result of taking them. However, if a woman does that and takes something to stop the bleeding, then fasts, this is OK.

9. Istihaadah (non-menstrual vaginal bleeding) does not have any effect on the validity of the fast.


10. If a pregnant woman miscarries and the foetus is formed or has a discernible outline of any part of the body, such as a head or hand, then her blood is nifaas; if, however, she passes something that looks like a blood clot (alaq) or a chewed piece of meat that has no discernible human features, her bleeding is istihaadah and she has to fast, if she is able, otherwise she can break her fast and make it up later on. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah, 10/224). Once she becomes clean after having an operation to clean the womb (D&C), she should fast. The scholars stated that the embryo is considered to start taking shape after 80 days of pregnancy.

11. If a woman becomes clean from nifaas before forty days, she should fast and do ghusl so that she can pray. (al-Mughni ma’a al-Sharh al-Kabeer, 1/360). If the bleeding resumes within forty days after the birth, she should stop fasting, because this is still nifaas. If the bleeding continues after the fortieth day, she should make the intention to fast and do ghusl (according to the majority of scholars), and any bleeding beyond the fortieth day is considered to be istihaadah (non-menstrual bleeding) – unless it coincides with the usual time of her period, in which case it is hayd (menstrual blood). 

12. If a breastfeeding woman fasts during the day and sees a spot of blood during the night, although she was clean during the day, her fast is still valid. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah, 10/150)

13. According to the most correct opinion, a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding is regarded as being like one who is ill, so she is permitted not to fast, and she only has to make up the days that she missed, whether she fears for herself or for her child. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has lifted the obligation of fasting and part of the prayer from the traveller, and He has lifted the obligation of fasting from the pregnant and breastfeeding woman.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 3/85; he said (it is a) hasan hadeeth). If a pregnant woman fasts and experiences some bleeding, her fast is still valid; this does not affect her fast at all. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah, 10/225).


14. In the case of a woman who is obliged to fast, if her husband has intercourse with her during the day in Ramadaan with her consent, then the ruling that applies to him also applies to her. If, however, he forces her to do that, she should do her best to resist him, and she does not have to offer expiation. Ibn Aqeel (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “In the case of a man who has intercourse with his wife during the day in Ramadaan whilst she is sleeping, she does not have to offer expiation.” But to be on the safe side, she should make up that fast later on. (Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was of the opinion that this did not invalidate her fast at all).

15. A woman who knows that her husband cannot control himself should keep away from him and not adorn herself during the day in Ramadaan.

16. Women have to make up the fasts that they miss during Ramadaan, even without their husbands’ knowledge. It is not a condition for an obligatory fast for a woman to have the permission of her husband. If a woman starts to observe an obligatory fast, she is not allowed to break it except for a legitimate reason. Her husband is not permitted to order her to break her fast when she is making up a day that she has missed; he is not allowed to have intercourse with her when she is making up a missed fast, and she is not allowed to obey him in that regard. (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 10/353).

17. In the case of voluntary fasts, a woman is not permitted to start a non-obligatory fast when her husband is present without his permission, because of the hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No woman should fast when her husband is present except with his permission.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 4793).

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Also Read :

Ruling on fasting for Pregnant Women and Breastfeeding Mothers
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/LoveIslam_ LiveIslam/ message/271


1 Comment | ramadan | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by SAKINA AND SARA

ARE WE PROMISED ANOTHER RAMADAN?

August 28, 2009


Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam ‘ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
What is the  Guarantee that this is
Not our FINAL RAMADHAAN

Benefits of Ramadhaan (we need Ramadhaan)
Abu Uwais Abdullaah Ali
Transcribed by: Umm Hasna Firdous Bint Jabir

Ramadhaan is a month of Forgiveness.

Ramadhaan is a month of Rahmah.

Ramadhaan is the month of generosity.

Ramadhaan, the month that Allaah subhaanahu wa taala accepts the Tawbah of the servants, and the month that Allaah blesses His servants.

We are in need of Ramadhaan to correct ourselves, for we have forgotten Allaah tabarak wa taala for the majority of the year.

To correct ourselves for we have been neglectful.

To correct ourselves for we are not upon the remembrance of Allaah.

To correct ourselves because our hearts have gotten hard, some hearts are dead, some hearts are sick, some hearts are stone-cold, some hearts are black, getting no benefit whatsoever. Some hearts are so bad, and so ill that they see a good as a Munkar, (as an evil), and they see an evil as a good. These are not as they should be.

We need a Ramadhaan.

We need a Ramadhaan because our connection with Allaah tabarak wa taala is not correct.

We need a Ramadhaan because we do not have any Khushoo or devotion in our Salaah.

We need a Ramadhaan because our Quraan has dust and is sitting o n a shelf.

We need a Ramadhaan because we never read the books of Sunnah.

We need a Ramadhaan because we dont fast, and if we fast physically without food or drink, we dont fast with our eyes by lowering them and our tongue by not slandering and our tongue by not lying and back-biting.

We need a Ramadhaan to get ourselves back in order, to work for the Hereafter, to connect ourselves to Allaah tabarak wa taala.

We need a Ramadhaan because relationships brother to brother and sister to sister is in a miserable condition.

We need a Ramadhaan because we have bad thoughts about o ne another.

We need a Ramadhaan because of dhulm, injustice to o ne another.

We need a Ramadhaan because there is backbiting, there is envy, there is jealousy, and there is slander.

We need a Ramadhaan because we are despicable, because we are sick, because we are  ill. (All these are diseases of the heart)

We need a Ramadhaan because we dont believe in the promise of Allaah tabarak wa taala, or if we do, we do not  implement it.

We need a Ramadhaan because it is time for us to change and become something better then we are now.

We need a Ramadhaan because that is  the o nly thing that is  going to get us together…

We need a Ramadhaan because we dont have unity, theres no brotherhood

We need a Ramadhaan because theres no respect for elders

We need a Ramadhaan because theres no real love between us

We need a Ramadhaan, full of love and the Mercy of Allaah tabarak wa taala.

A Ramadhaan like we come in, like in a clinic or a hospital, trying to solve our illnesses, trying to come out of there without the disease we came with, trying to be better than we went in with.

We need a Ramadhaan.

Look around you, look to your right, look to your left, look in front of you and look behind you and you will say,  “We need a Ramadhaan”.

The sisters arent covering properly, we need a Ramadhaan.

Brothers and sisters are mixing. We need a Ramadhaan. Talking o n phones and o n the internet, we need a Ramadhaan. This is a mess, we are in a fix, we are in a bind, and this is a problem…

We need a Ramadhaan.

We need a Ramadhaan to get ourselves together.

We need a Ramadhaan, that we come in the Masjid and we face the Qiblah and we say “Allaahu Akbar” and we stand in qiyaamah a long time until those diseases, that filth, that sickness, that hardness  the heart goes away.

We need a Ramadhaan that reminds us of the Hell-fire.

We need a Ramadhaan that tells us that we havent been given a certificate that we are people of Jannah.

We need a Ramadhaan that lets us known that we are servants of Allaah tabarak wa taala.

And if we were to spend our whole life, from the time we were born until Yawm al Qiyaamah in Sajdaah, it would not be enough to thank Allaah for His Mercy, His Grace and His Blessings.

We need a Ramadhaan and it is clear. If there is any fear of Allaah left in the hearts of ours and if there is any hope of Jannaah left in us, and if there is any desire to change and to be better and to be righteous and to come to the level of Ihsaan, to come to the level of a Mumim, to have taqwa, to fear Allaah … we need a Ramadhaan.

We need a Ramadhaan, a month of Tawbaah.

We need a Ramadhaan, a month of Maghfira.

We need a Ramadhaan to correct our behaviour, to correct the differences & the difficulties and the envy / jealousies in our relationship between o ne another.

We need a Ramadhaan to understand that we have been committing injustice to o ne another.

And as the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said : Az-Zulm (injustice) – “Zulumaat yawmal Qiyaamah” –will be changed physically into darkness o n the Day of Judgement.

We need a Ramadhaan to understand the Hadith : to fear the duaa of the o ne to whom we have done injustice.  For there is not between Allaah and the person making the invocation, the person making that supplication of the person to whom injustice has been done, there is no veil between that person and Allaah. That duaa is immediately accepted.

Why I cant get ahead?

Why I cant progress in my Deen?

Why I cant memorize this ayah?

Why I cant understand this hadeeth?

We may be living under the invocation, the answer for invocation for someone whom we abused or stepped over.

You know you need a Ramadhaan.

I know I need a Ramadhaan.

We know we need a Ramadhaan.

We need to get ourselves together. We have been running around in filth, we have been having our hearts around the low matters; We need our hearts to be around the thrones of Allaah; We need to think about the high matters, high goals; We need to think about Jannah; We need a hope for al-Jannah.

You are planning for marriage, you are planning for education, you are planning for a job, but we need to plan for the Jannah.

We need to prepare for the Jannah during the month of Ramadhaan.

“‘Nahnu be haajathin Ma aasa fir Ramadhaan.”

We are in severe need for Ramadhaan, so that we come into Ramdhaan with repentance, we come into it with regret, we come into it realizing that we are weak, that we need Allaah tabarak wa taala to correct us, realizing that we are wrong and that we need Allaah tabarak wa taala to place upon us that which is right, realizing that we are weak and that we need Allaah tabarak wa taala to grant us strength.

We need a Ramadhaan.

Oh Yes !! We need a Ramadhaan. 

We needs nights of Qiyaam, we need dua and sujood, we need nights of Ramadhaan to do thilawaah of Quraan.

We need a Ramadhaan to listen to the Quraan.

When was the last time that we listened to the Quraan??

When was the last time we recited Quraan?

We need a Ramadhaan to study Quraan, to implement the Quraan, and this RamadhaanMAY BE OUR LAST Ramadhaan.

What is the guarantee that it is not our final Ramadhaan?

We have to come into it seriously. And we want to come out of it much better than we came into it. We want to come out of Ramadhaan with Taqwa, because that was the main reason that it was legislated.

“O you who believe fasting has been written upon  you as it was written for those before you, so that you may gain Taqwa.”

Taqwa is fear of Allaah. If we had taqwa, our condition will be better than  it is now.

And we can achieve Taqwa during the month of Ramadhaan. I dont believe that our hearts are that hard, I dont believe that we cant change.

We need a Ramadhaan to be as the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was.

That he was the most generous, he was generous in general and he was most generous in Ramadhaan. Like a wind … spending, giving to his right, giving to his left, giving in front of him, giving behind him, giving to anyone who came. He gave without them asking. 

We need a Ramadhaan to inculcate these qualities.

We need to control our desires.

We need to control our tongue.

We need to control our limbs.

We need to learn self-discipline.

We need to control our anger.

We must do things in Ramadhaan not out of habit, something that is just tradition., that we are more despicable when we went in.

We have to change our condition. We have to change our connection with Allaah tabarak wa taala.

Any other Ramadhaan do what you will.

But my sincere advice to you is, this Ramadhaan worry about yourself.

Am I backbiting?

Am I slandering?

Am I committing fahishah?

Am I committing gheebah?

Am I committing Nameemah (tale-carrying) ?

Do I have hasad?

Do I have pride (Kibr) ?

Am I arrogant?

Am I too harsh?

Am I unkind?

Am I not gentle enough? Am I gentle enough?

Question yourself. Was my intention when I said what I said or did what I did for the pleasure of Allaah or to be noticed?

When I spoke what I spoke was it for the pleasure of Allaah or to be seen or heard?

Was I doing it “Haarisa min Qalbi— sincerely from my heart

or

I did it to be known? Khutbath Duroor — Loving to be known breaks it. 


If we find that we are not talking to our sisters or brothers too much, we need a Ramadhaan to learn to stop talking to those who are not halaal for us to talk to.

And if we find that we are mixing too much, we need a Ramadhaan  to start mixing with those whom you are not supposed to mix with.

We find that we have jealousy in our hearts, vengeance in our hearts, distrust in our hearts for other Muslims based upon nothing but  Shaitaan whispers to us, we need a Ramadhaan.  


We need a Ramadhaan,

Our condition wont change.

We will continue to complain.

We need a Ramadhaan or we will forever be in pain.

We need a Ramadhaan or we will go insane. 

Why cant we make excuses?

Why cant we forgive?

Why cant we forget?

Why cant we let things go?

Upon clarity, upon Haqq, knowing the Sunnah, knowing the Deen, connected to the scholars, not preceding them in any statement or action and if they make a statement, we make their statement (not add our own), This is important.

We need a Ramadhaan. 

This blessed month where you can go in as the most despicable devil and come out like an angel. That blessed month when you can go in as a miser and come out as the generous … that blessed month where you can be o ne of those hard-hearted brothers – (everybody usually gives you a smile but you dont give anybody a smile) – and if you do it right, you’ll come out of Ramadhaan giving smiles to those brothers , not in the faces of the sisters but the faces of your brothers.. 

We need a Ramadhaan to correct our condition :

we are slow,

we are lazy,

we dont have any incentive towards the deen and the Aakhiraah, the Hereafter .

We need a Ramadhaan to clarify our situation.

We need a Ramadhaan to put us in position.

We need a Ramadhaan to give this Ummah a rebirth, air ..

we have to understand that we are global.

Whoever follows the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) will be with him in the jannah.

And those who are upon ignorance, innovation, not mukaffarah, they are still brothers from a distant but from within this Ummah. So it affects all of us. And we are connected in that way. 

If you sit there saying,

I dont care what they do to the Muslims in India doesnt concern me; I dont care if they bomb Afghanistan up the planet…

I dont care…. it has nothing to do with me …then you are a racist, a nationalist, you are not a muslim.

Because a Muslim concerns himself about this Ummah.

A muslim at night thinks about this Ummah.

A muslim cries in his salaah about the condition of this Ummah, he cries about all locally, he cries about their condition internationally. We need a Ramadhaan so that we  can realize the Islaamic brotherhood again. 

We need a Ramadhaan because some of them never practiced brotherhood ever in their lives and  may have been Muslims 50 years. We need a Ramadhaan so that the sisters learn sisterhood, 

We need a Ramadhaan so that we can focus o n the Aakhirah — Hereafter and we give Naseehah and advice to o ne another that is of benefit and that our talking and our mixing is just not about the Dunya, and what you want to do in the Dunya and how you are gonna be in this Dunya.

We need a Ramadhaan so that people learn to inculcate in their children to be like Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, Umar al-Khattab, Saad abi Ibn Waqqas and like this.


We need our Qiyaam at night, we need recitation of Quraan, we need to sit together and talk together o nly about the deen, not about the Dunya, we need to worry about our status in the Aakhirah, in the Hereafter. We need to wake up from our sleep. Wake up Oh Sleepy o ne. !! our slumber has been too long. You got to wake up, take wudoo, get within the caravan of Mohamed Ibn Abdullah, Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq, Umar al-Khattab, you have to get with it. How long are we going to stay sick? How long are we going to be unsettled? How long are we going to have our problems?

We need a Ramadhaan.  And let this Ramadhaan be the one where you come out of it better, come out of it committed, come out of it devoted, you come out of it with your head held high.

You are from the Ummah of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and dont you forget it!!

Walhamdulillaahi rabbil aalameen.

Leave a Comment » | ISLAM, ISLAMIC CHARACTER, ramadan | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by SAKINA AND SARA

MISTAKES TO AVOID IN RAMADAAN

August 24, 2009

Some Common Mistakes in Ramadaan

Lets Strive Not to Repeat the Same.

By Asma bint Shameem

RAMADAN

1 : Taking Ramadaan as a ritual

For many of us Ramadaan has lost its spirituality and has become more of a ritual than a form of Ibaadah. We fast from morning to night like a zombie just because everyone around us is fasting too. We forget that its a time to purify our hearts and our souls from all evil….we forget to make dua, forget to beseech Allaah to forgive us and ask Him to save us from the Fire.  Sure we stay away from food and drink but that’s about all.

Although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“Jibreel said to me, May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person to who Ramadaan comes and his sins are not forgiven, and I said, Ameen.

Then he said, May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person who lives to see his parents grow old, one or both of them, but he does not enter Paradise (by not serving them) and I said, Ameen.

Then he said, May Allaah rub his nose in the dust, that person in whose presence you are mentioned and he does not send blessings upon you, and I said, Ameen.’”

(Tirmidhi, Ahmad, others. Saheeh by al-Albaani)

2 : Too much stress on food and drink

For some people, the entire month of Ramadaan revolves around food. They spend the ENTIRE day planning, cooking, shopping and thinking about only food, instead of concentrating on Salaah, Quraan and other acts of worship. All they can think of is FOOD. So much so that they turn the month of fasting into the month of feasting. Come Iftaar time, their table is a sight to see, with the multitudes and varieties of food, sweets and drinks. They are missing the very purpose of fasting, and thus, increase in their greed and desires instead of learning to control them. It is also a kind of waste & extravagance.

“…..and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allaah) likes not Al-Musrifoon (those who waste by extravagance) “[al-Araaf :31]

3 : Spending all day cooking

Some of the sisters (either by their own choice or forced by their husbands) are cooking ALL day and ALL night, so that by the end of the day, they are too tired to even pray Ishaa, let alone pray Taraweeh or Tahajjud or even read Quraan. This is the month of mercy and forgiveness. So turn off that stove and turn on your Imaan!

4 : Eating too much

Some people stuff themselves at Suhoor until they are ready to burst, because they think this is the way to not feel hungry during the day and some people eat at Iftaar, like there is no tomorrow, trying to make up for the food missed. However, this is completely against the Sunnah. Moderation is the key to everything.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The son of Adam does not fill any vessel worse than his stomach; for the son of Adam a few mouthfuls are sufficient to keep his back straight. If you must fill it, then one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for air.” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah.  saheeh by al-Albaani).

Too much food distracts a person from many deeds of obedience and worship, makes him lazy and also makes the heart heedless.

It was said to Imam Ahmad: Does a man find any softness and humility in his heart when he is full? He said, I do not think so.

5 : Sleeping all day

Some people spend their entire day (or a major part of it) sleeping away their fast. Is this what is really required of us during this noble month? These people also are missing the purpose of fasting and are slaves to their desires of comfort and ease. They cannot bear to be awake and face a little hunger or exert a little self-control. For a fasting person to spend most of the day asleep is nothing but, negligence on his part.

6 : Wasting time

The month of Ramadaan is a precious, precious time, so much so that Allaah calls this month “Ayyamum Madoodaat” (A fixed number of days). Before we know it, this month of mercy and forgiveness will be over. We should try and spend every moment possible in the worship of Allaah so that we can make the most of this blessing. However, there are some of us who waste away their day playing video games, or worse still, watching TV, movies or even listening to music. Subhaan Allaah! Trying to obey Allaah by DISOBEYING him!

7 : Fasting but not giving up evil

Some of us fast but do not give up lying, cursing, fighting, backbiting, etc. and some of us fast but do not give up cheating, stealing, dealing in haraam, buying lotto tickets, selling alcohol, fornication, etc. and all kinds of impermissible things without realizing that the purpose of fasting is to not stay away from food and drink; rather the aim behind it is to fear Allaah.

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” [al-Baqarah 2:183]

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acting upon it, and ignorance, Allaah has no need of him giving up his food and drink.” (Bukhaari)

8 : Smoking

Smoking is forbidden in Islam whether during Ramadaan or outside of it, as it is one of al-Khabaaith (evil things). And this includes ALL kinds of smoking material eg.cigars, cigarettes, pipes, sheesha, hookah etc.

“he allows them as lawful At Tayyibaat (all good and lawful things), and prohibits them as unlawful Al Khabaa’ith (all evil and unlawful things) [al-Araaf :157]

It is harmful, not only to the one smoking, but also to the ones around him. It is also a means of wasting ones wealth.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:”There should be no harming or reciprocating harm.”

This is especially true during fasting and it invalidates the fast. (Fatwa -Ibn Uthaymeen)

9 : Skipping Suhoor

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Eat suhoor for in suhoor there is blessing.”(Bukhaari, Muslim).

And he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The thing that differentiates between our fasting and the fasting of the People of the Book is eating suhoor.” (Muslim)

10 : Stopping Suhoor at Imsaak

Some people stop eating Suhoor 10-15 minutes earlier than the time of Fajr to observe Imsaak.

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said: This is a kind of bidah (innovation) which has no basis in the Sunnah. Rather the Sunnah is to do the opposite. Allaah allows us to eat until dawn: “and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night)” [al-Baqarah 2:187]

And the Prophet (pbuh) said: “….eat and drink until you hear the adhaan of Ibn Umm Maktoom, for he does not give the adhaan until dawn comes.”

This imsaak which some of the people do is an addition to what Allaah has prescribed, so it is false. It is a kind of extremism in religion, and the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“Those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed, those who go to extremes are doomed.” (Muslim)

11 : Not fasting if they missed Suhoor

Some people are too scared to fast if they miss Suhoor. However, this is a kind of cowardice and love of ease. What is the big deal if you missed a few morsels of food? Its not like you will die. Remember, obedience to Allaah overcomes everything.

12 : Saying the intention to fast out loud or saying a specific dua to start fasting

The intention is an action of the heart. We should resolve in our heart that we are going to fast tomorrow. That is all we need. It is not prescribed by the Shariah for us to say out loud, “I intend to fast”, “I will fast tomorrow” or other phrases that have been innovated by some people. Also, there is no specific dua to be recited at the time of starting the fast in the correct Sunnah. Whatever dua you may see on some papers or Ramadaan calendars, etc. is a Bidah.

read more :Uttering the intention to fast out loud is an innovation (bidah)http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/LoveIslam_ LiveIslam/ message/258 Authentic & UnAuthentic Dua for Iftaar !!!http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/LoveIslam_ LiveIslam/ message/263

13 : Delaying breaking fast

Some people wait until the adhaan finishes or even several minutes after that, just to be on the safe side. However, the Sunnah is to hasten to break the fast, which means breaking fast whenever the adhaan starts, right after the sun has set. Aaishah (RA) said: This is what the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to do. (Muslim)

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The people will continue to do well so long as they hasten to break the fast.” (Bukhaari, Muslim)

Determine to the best of your ability, the accuracy of your clock, calendar, etc. and then have tawakkul on Allaah and break your fast exactly on time.

14 : Eating continuously until the time for Maghrib is up

Some people put so much food in their plates when breaking their fast and continue eating, enjoying dessert, drinking tea, etc., until they miss Maghrib. That is obviously not right. The Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) was that once he broke his fast with some dates, them he would hasten to the prayer. Once you are done with the prayer, you can always go back and eat some more if you wish.

15 : Missing the golden chance of having your Dua accepted

The prayer of the fasting person is guaranteed to be accepted at the time of breaking fast.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:”Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveler.” (al-Bayhaqi, saheeh by al-Albaani).

Instead of sitting down and making Dua at this precious time, some people forego this beautiful chance, and are too busy frying samosas, talking, setting the food, filling their plates and glasses, etc. Think about it….Is food more important than the chance to have your sins forgiven or the fulfillment of your Duas.

16 : Fasting but not praying

The fasting of one who does not pray WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. This is because not praying constitutes kufr as the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: ”Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer.” (Muslim)

In fact, NONE of his good deeds will be accepted; rather, they are all annulled.

“Whoever does not pray Asr, his good deeds will be annulled.” (Bukhaari)

17 : Fasting and not wearing Hijaab

Not wearing the Hijaab is a major sin as it is obligatory for Muslim women. (See Surah Nur, Surah Ahzaab). So fasting and not wearing hijaab certainly takes away enormously from the rewards of fasting, even if does not invalidate it.

18 : Not fasting because of exams or work

Exams or work is NOT one of the excuses allowed by the Shariah to not fast. You can do your studying and revision at night if it is too hard to do that during the day. Also remember that pleasing and obeying Allaah is much more important than good grades. Besides, if you will fulfil your obligation to fast, even if you have to study, Allaah will make it easy for you and help you in everything you do.

“Whosoever fears Allah, He will appoint for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect, Allah is Sufficient for whosoever puts his trust in Him.” (Surah at-Talaaq 2-3)

19 : Mixing fasting and dieting

DO NOT make the mistake of fasting with the intention to diet. That is one of the biggest mistakes some of us make (esp. sisters). Fasting is an act of worship and can only be for the sake of Allah alone.

Otherwise, mixing it with the intention of dieting may become a form of (minor) Shirk.

20 : Fighting over the number of Rakaah of Taraweeh

There is no specific number of rakahs for Taraweeh prayer, rather it is permissible to do a little or a lot. Both 8 and 20 are okay. Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said: “No one should be denounced for praying eleven or twenty-three (rakaah), because the matter is broader in scope than that, praise be to Allaah.”

21 : Praying ONLY on the night of the 27th

Some people pray ONLY on the 27th to seek Lailat ul-Qadr, neglecting all other odd nights, although the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Seek Lailat ul-Qadr among the odd numbered nights of the last ten nights of Ramadaan.” (Bukhaari, Muslim).

22 : Wasting the last part of Ramadaan preparing for Eid

Some people waste the entire last 10 days of Ramadaan preparing for Eid, shopping and frequenting malls, etc. neglecting Ibadah and Lailatul Qadr. although, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to strive the hardest during the last ten days of Ramadaan in worship (Ahmad, Muslim) and not in shopping. Buy whatever you need for Eid before Ramadaan so that you can utilize the time in Ramadaan to the max.

Aaishah (RA) said: “When the (last) ten nights began, the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)) would tighten his waist-wrapper (i.e., strive hard in worship or refrain from intimacy with his wives), stay awake at night and wake his family.” (Bukhaari and Muslim).

23 : Iftaar parties

Although inviting each other for breaking fast is something good and encouraged, some people go to extremes with lavish Iftaar parties with all sorts of disobedience to Allaah, from flirting, mixing of the sexes and hijaab-less women, to show-off and extravagance, to heedlessness to Salaah, and Taraweeh to even music and dancing.

Leave a Comment » | ARTICLES, ramadan | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by SAKINA AND SARA

Culture of extravagance is robbing Ramadan of its significance

August 22, 2009


Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

The Muslim world goes topsy-turvy in Ramadan. Eating, sleeping and socialising routines are turned back to front – the first meal is eaten as the sun sets. The initial morsel of food into our mouths will usually be a sweet, succulent date, according to the Islamic tradition. But are the hours that follow really that religious?
Contemporary changes to the Ramadan culture mean that the spiritual significance of Ramadan is slowly being lost. Abstaining from physical intake during daylight hours – which means food, drink, and sex – with the intention of getting closer to the Divine, has a myriad of philosophies and meanings.
It allows appreciation of the suffering of the poor and hungry, a chance to devote less time to the physical and more time to the spiritual, a recognition that we can live happily and successfully with less than we have.Come nightfall, these good intentions are put to one side, as though Ramadan is for daylight hours only, and the revelling begins.
Mothers cook sumptuous meals for their families. The food is indulgently calorific to the point that many Muslims say they actually gain weight rather than lose it as one might expect. The philosophy of restraint and frugality adhered to during the day has its mirror image in the excessive culinary indulgence after dark.
One of the religious traditions of Ramadan is to feed others at the time of iftar in order to gain reward. Dinner invitations thus abound, and these iftar gatherings are warm social events. But in many places they turn into arenas for showmanship, outdoing friends and family with ever extravagant menus. “People will announce at the end of the meal how much it cost,” said one Egyptian woman to emphasise the one-upmanship that dominates what should be an occasion of sharing and community.
Once the iftar is over, there is a wide choice of entertainment. Those who are extrovert will find their way to newly erected Ramadan tents, to smoke shisha and chill out with friends for the whole night, going from party to party until dawn. Other families will stay at home to watch the multitude of soap operas which dominate Ramadan. In Saudi Arabia last year it was claimed that there were 64 such soap operas broadcast each night, staggered over time so audiences could watch as many as possible.
This is not a comment on the values or quality of the soaps, or the claims by some clerics that they are “debauched”. It is simply an observation that these soap operas prey on the communal feeling that is generated in Ramadan and profit from it. The audience is understandably drawn towards the high level of entertainment but inadvertently becomes distracted from the sweet pleasures of contemplation and social intercourse of Ramadan.
And let’s not forget the shopping. Shops are open later than ever, and it seems that Ramadan is not a time of midnight contemplation, but rather just a prelude to Eid, a day to show off your new clothes. Ramadan shopping festivals are becoming more common, as is the compulsion to purchase and give Eid presents to a wide circle of acquaintances.
Instead of cutting back on the desire to consume, we end up with heightened consumption in these 30 days, whether that be in restaurants or in retail.
This is not to say that the Muslim world has become a month-long consumerist orgy – far from it. The social and spiritual temperature of Muslim communities is high and mosques teem with passionate worshippers.What may surprise many who live in majority Muslim countries is that this sense of community and faith is particularly acute in countries where Muslims are minorities.
In these countries, if you are fasting you have to make an active choice to go against the grain of mainstream society. You still have to go to work where you can stare longingly at your colleagues drinking coffee, or attend meetings which run across the iftar time. You have to really know and understand why you are fasting, rather than just being swept up in the maelstrom. There is a sense of community purpose in these countries and an overwhelming push towards spiritual success.
The energy is so focused that I have known Muslims who come to Britain leaving Muslim countries behind in order to have a more spiritually profitable month.
As Ramadan’s religious significance is slowly eclipsed by its commercial and cultural status, then it is voided of its meaning, and ultimately of its importance. That is exactly what happened in 1960 when the president of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, wanted to cancel Ramadan. He felt that although Ramadan was a “beautiful custom”, it “paralysed our society”.
He appeared on national television with his cabinet eating during the day and tried to get senior Muslim clerics to issue fatwas to say that it was permissible not to fast. Of course, this did not happen, but it is a salutary tale of how, when religious occasion turns into culture, it becomes vulnerable to elimination.
There are some who will say I am being a killjoy and too pious. Others will say that if mothers want to spoil their families with delicious food after working hard on their fasts all day, then that is their right. There are those who will say that spending the night chatting away in shisha bars or comparing notes on soap operas, increases the sense of community and social cohesion.
These outcomes are all good things – part of the magic of Ramadan, no doubt. And of course there is no compulsion in how you spend Ramadan. You do not have to sit on a prayer mat all hours of the day. But I do see a worrying trend when you piece each of these actions together. Each one may be justifiable because everyone has choice, but if you step back, you start to see that the meaning and context of Ramadan is slowly being lost.
If we accept these justifications then we must be wary of opening ourselves to the charge of hypocrisy.
Ramadan and Eid are not the only occasions to have suffered this slow and insidious dilution of meaning and impact. Practising Christians in the western world complain that Christmas has been sucked dry of its religious meaning. Other festivals, too, have lost their meaning. Easterwas about rebirth and renewal, but now focuses on chocolate eggs and cute bunnies. And Lent, which was a 40-day period of frugality and restraint – almost akin to Ramadan itself in its ethos – has been distilled down to Mardi Gras, pancakes and gaudy carnivals.
Some people will bristle at the comparison of the way that Christmas has been usurped by consumerism with the contemporary experience of Ramadan. But the similarities are striking as the evidence above shows.You do not have to be religious to appreciate that the social and ethical meaning of festivals such as Christmas, Ramadan and Eid have a great deal to contribute to the morality of human society.
For this reason, Muslims add their voices to these complaints, as part of the faith communities who share a concern about the sapping of meaning and moral compass from these occasions. However, it often turns into pointing fingers at the West for becoming “godless” or “decadent” due to the excessive commercialisation, while turning a blind eye to the same challenges in the Muslim world.
Is this a case of pot calling the kettle black?
Ramadan does not have to be, and should not be, sober pious asceticism. Of course not. Enjoyment, sharing and happiness in our togetherness are critical components of Ramadan. But Ramadan should be about more than gluttony, shopping and vacuous entertainment.
We do in fact need to recognise and acknowledge the place of Ramadan’s material pleasures. By being honest about the importance of the physical, we can de-prioritise it in favour of the spiritual and moral at least for the 30 days of Ramadan.
This de-prioritisation is what makes Ramadan special in the first place. By withholding the importance of the physical self, Ramadan is about recognising the importance of our individual spirit, and about finding our place as souls, not bodies, in the society in which we live.
Source: http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090815/WEEKENDER/708149832

Leave a Comment » | ISLAMIC CHARACTER, ramadan | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by SAKINA AND SARA

FINDING PLACE TO PRAY IN AMERICA

August 22, 2009

Abundant Faith, Shrinking Space

Mosques Turn to Synagogues, Ballrooms to Accommodate Growing Membership

masjids

By William Wan

Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, August 22, 2009

They stream in through the doors every Friday — a sea of Muslims pouring into a synagogue in Reston.

The men roll out long prayer rugs on the synagogue floor. An imam stands up front and praises Allah. And as the faithful begin whispering their prayers in flowing Arabic, their landlord, a rabbi, walks by to check whether they need anything.

This unlikely arrangement between a burgeoning Muslim congregation and a suburban synagogue is what happens when you combine the region’s rapidly growing Muslim population with a serious shortage of worship space.

As area mosques prepare for the start of Ramadan this weekend, many are simply bursting at the seams. Every available inch — even in lobbies and hallways — is being used. Parking is impossible. Traffic afterward is worse than postgame gridlock at FedEx Field.

Nobody knows how many Muslims are in America — estimates range from 2.35 million to 7 million — but researchers say the population is growing rapidly, driven by conversions, immigration and the tendency for Muslims to have larger families. One study by Trinity College in Connecticut shows the percentage nationwide having doubled since 1990. In the Washington area, the increase might be even sharper, local Muslim leaders say.

A building boom has brought new mosques to suburbs such as Manassas and Ellicott City, but many have been full from the moment they opened. So, desperate for room, Muslim communities have started renting hotel ballrooms, office space and, yes, even synagogues to handle the overflow. Read the rest of this entry »

Leave a Comment » | ARTICLES, ramadan | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by SAKINA AND SARA

Changing Habits During Ramadan

August 22, 2009
ramadan















Assalam Alaikum,
 
Ramadan Mubarak :) Have been reading these tips and want to share them:
 
We all have habits that we may not like or that which may not be liked 
by Allah. As a result of this, we feel its negative effect in our lives. 
By its nature, a habit is basically something ingrained and hardwired in 
our mind. The best way to get over it, is not to try to stop the habit 
straight away, rather by starting and working on a counter habit. If you 
want to lose some weight for example – don’t start by stopping to eat, 
rather start developing a habit of regular exercise and then slowly work 
on cutting down on the food. This is more effective, more lasting and 
will probably bring in the result you want. You see, it is difficult to 
overcome habits that are and have been long standing, but relatively 
easy to start new ones.
 
I wanted to share with you a process that I follow to work on starting a 
new habit that counters a bad habit that I have. It is the following 6 
steps. These steps are essentially taken from the simple Islamic process 
of making repentance – firstly remembering the sin, regretting it by 
thinking about its implications, making a resolve to not repeat it, 
doing a good deed that will wipe out the sin, then surrounding yourself 
with ways of doing good and closing all doors to the bad and lastly 
being thankful to Allah for having guided you to the good and 
remembering that if you do the sin again, it is only going to be a new 
sin and not harm your previous repentance inshaAllah. In the context of 
habits, the steps are as follows:
 
1. Firstly, make yourself aware of that negative habit, when, where and 
how frequently do you happen to do it. How can you effectively make 
yourself aware of it? By telling others to spot it, by monitoring 
yourself as closely as possible, by jotting down every time that you 
remember that you did it. Example: Habit of missing the sunnah prayers.
 
2. Then, Ask yourself about what impact that habit has on yourself and 
on yours perception, personality and relationship with Allah. The more 
you focus on this, the more this becomes the lever of change. Example: 
Constantly missing the sunnah prayers makes a person a miser with his 
ibadah, not love the sunnah, legally removes his status as being just, 
removes the reward of having a new palace built for him/her in paradise 
daily – the more you focus on the problems of this bad habit, the more 
it will make you want to change it.
 
3. Next, focus on how willing and committed you are to making a change 
and on doing a counter habit. Think over the fence into the future – how 
it would be to not have the negative habit and to replace it with a 
positive one.
 
4. Then write a specific action that you will do to counter the habit 
and start the good habit. Be very specific and try to make it regular so 
that it actually becomes a habit. Remember – a habit is something that 
you do regularly! Example: specifically you will come to prayer 10mins 
early so you can do the sunnah prayer on time.
 
5. Next: Support yourself to develop that new good habit. How? Hang 
around good friends, put up reminders anywhere and everywhere, get your 
family and friends to support you by remind you about it.
 
6. Lastly: Reward yourself every time you do a good habit and don’t be 
too hard on yourself if you end up doing the bad habit here and there. 
Remember: Habit happens!
 
Remember that Allah loves those simple deeds that are done regularly 
rather than the major ones done irregularly. I invite you to use the 
above to remove a negative habit that you may have and then to develop a 
new good habit in this month. I am also adding here the link to the 
Ramadan Checklist that I had made last year to help you develop and 
stick to that good habit:
 
http://www.alkauthar.org/downloads/Ramadanchecklist.pdf 
<http://www.alkauthar.org/downloads/Ramadanchecklist.pdf> So make this 
Ramadan special by starting a new habit of making dhikr constantly; 
reciting surah ikhlas 30 times a day so you get the reward of reciting 
the whole Quran 10 times a day; helping one poor person with a daily 
meal; sponsoring an orphan; getting up for qiyamul layl in the last 
third of the night every night of Ramadan; making dua only for 
Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa salam etc. Whatever habit you work on, 
believe me, you will certainly find tremendous barakah and become truly 
beloved to Allah, if you focus on making it less adhoc and more regular 
and constant – a true good habit!
 
Lastly my friends, if there is anything at all that I can do to help you 
or to make Ramadan more enjoyable for you and more successful for you, 
then please do not deny me the honour of aiding you in it. Please don’t 
hesitate to email me if you wish, or use the forums for any non-personal 
issues and questions that you may have: http://forums.alkauthar.org 
<http://forums.alkauthar.org/> I hope to see you again sometime soon 
inshaAllah.
 
Wassalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu
 
Tawfique Chowdhury

6 Comments | ISLAMIC CHARACTER, ramadan | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by SAKINA AND SARA

THE LIBERATION OF HIJAB

August 18, 2009

Forget fashion, this is freedom

(Filed: 31/12/2003)

The Muslim veil has become a hot political issue in France – but Stella White cannot see what the fuss is about. ACatholic from Kent, she explains the joys of the complete cover-up

To liberated Westerners, the hijab, or veil, is a stain on womankind. It symbolises the crushing of the female spirit and is the mark of slavery, transforming a woman into a passive lump who is only allowed out of the house to buy her husband’s dinner.

When faced with this piece-of-cloth- on-legs, English women will often meet the eyes peeking out of the hijab with an expression of pity and sadness. For them, the veil represents a living death. This might also be the feeling of the French authorities, who have decided to ban the hijab in schools, believing that no young girl should have to carry the burden of repression on her tender head.

Yet for many, including myself, the veil is not an instrument of coercion, but a means of liberation. Personally, I have never felt so free as I do when I am wearing it.

Before you presume that I am regurgitating propaganda from a culture that has brainwashed me, I should point out that I am a Catholic, not a Muslim. I am not from the mysterious East, but am a 32-year-old woman from boring Kent. Nor am I a prude:my life has included spells as an exotic dancer, kissogram andglamour model. Three of my best friends are strippers. I have had relationships with Muslim men, but none of them ever demanded I wear the hijab; in fact, they found my behaviour slightly embarrassing.

There is nobody in my past that has coerced me to wear a veil. I do so simply because I love it.

I relish the privacy; the barrier that the hijab creates between myself and the harsh, frenetic world, especially in London. I find a great peace behind the veil: I don’t feel invaded by nosy passers-by; the traffic, noise and crowds seem less overwhelming. I can retreat into my own safe world even as I walk and, on a practical level, I feel completely secure from unwanted advances.

The hijab is also a financial security system. Like most pedestrians in London, I can’t afford to give money to every homeless person I see, but feel stressed and guilty when I walk past them. In my hijab, my conscience can hide. I also feel fairly safe from muggers. Thieves glance at me and probably think, “illegal immigrant; not worth the effort”, presuming that my big carrier bags contain only weird, knobbly vegetables for my 16 children.

In my hijab, shopping is also cheaper. A small minority of Muslim traders operate a two-tier pricing system with the “one of us” price being considerably lower than the price for Westerners. If I want a bargain, I make sure I am “hijabbed-up” .

The most amazing effect of wearing the veil is that you automatically seem to become a member of the Muslim community and are accorded all of the privileges and dignity of a Muslim woman. When I walk into a Muslim shop, a man will say to me, gently, “Salaam aleikum [peace be upon you]. How can I help you, madam?” On the bus, Muslim men from Africa, the Middle East or the Far East will move aside for me and say, “After you, sister.”

The offices, bars and clubs of London are full of English girls in short skirts and strappy sandals, many of them looking for love. Women who wear the hijab, often despised by the West, actually feel sorry for these Western women who have to harm themselves with crippling high heels, skin-choking make-up and obsessive dieting in order to find a man.

My Iranian friend Mona is a successful businesswoman who goes out every day looking impeccable, with painted nails, stilettos, sharp suits and perfect make-up. “It was just so much easier when I was in Iran,” she says. “You’d get up at nine, throw on your big black hooded dress and jump in the car. Now, I have to spend two or three hours getting done up every morning.”

Too often, the hijab is dismissed as the preserve of Muslim fundamentalists. But in the Christian tradition, St Paul ordered women to cover their heads and, until the Sixties, no woman would be seen in an English church without a hat and gloves.

Many English women wore hats out in the street or headscarves tied under their chin. Hindu and Sikh women are still expected to cover their heads loosely for their honour, or izzat, and Orthodox Jewish women have traditionally worn wigs over their real hair to conceal it from men who are not their husbands. Yet, among all these cultural groups, only Muslim women seem to have been described as weak or oppressed on account of their headgear.

Two of the most unlikely bedfellows are the woman who wears a hijab and the militant feminist. When women in the early Seventies began cropping their hair short, and wearing dungarees and comfortable shoes, they were rejecting the idea of suffering for fashion and were refusing to take part in the desperate ritual to attract spoilt, fussy males.

Similarly, a woman in a hijab can retain her identity without being a slave to finicky Western notions of beauty.

A particularly sad article appeared in a popular women’s magazine last week, entitled: “How to hate your body less.” I showed it to my Arab friend Malika, who shook her head and said: “In my culture, men are so grateful when they marry a woman that they see her as a gorgeous princess, whatever shape or size she is.”

Within the hijab, Muslim women know their power and their value. One Muslim man told me: “My wife is like a beautiful diamond. Would you leave a precious diamond to get scratched or stolen in the street? No, you would wrap it in velvet. And that is how the hijab protects my wife, who is more precious to me than any jewel.”

Of course, if anybody tried to remove my veil or force me to wear it, I would react violently. I am privileged to live in a country in which I can wear whatever I want to. Not all women are so lucky. Personally, I have found in the hijab a kind of guardian angel. My mother, on the other hand, claims that I wear it because I can’t be bothered to brush my hair.

Comments:

Here is a non-Muslim woman who has realized and understood the value and benefits of the Islamic hijab, and she is using it for herself despite being a non-Muslim.

1 Comment | HIJAB | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by SAKINA AND SARA

« Previous Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 134 other followers