User talk:Tanya.A.B

MY HIJ’AB

“With my HIJ’AB I put my FAITH on display rather than my BEAUTY”.

My value as a human is defined by my relationship with God, not by my looks, so I cover the irrelevant. And when you look at me, you don’t see a body. You view me only for what I’m; A Servant of My Creator. Growing up, you read me The Ugly Duckling. And for years I believed that was me. I’m a Woman-that ugly duckling among Men. For so long you taught me I was nothing more than a bad copy of the standard. I couldn’t run as fast or lift as much. I didn’t make the same money and I cried too often. I grew up in a man’s world where I didn’t belong. And when I couldn’t be him, I wanted only to please him. I put on your make-up and wore your short skirts. I gave my life; my body; my dignity for the cause of being pretty. I knew that no matter what I did, I was worthy only to the degree that I could please and be beautiful for my master. And so I spent my life on the cover of Cosmo and gave my body for you to sell. I was a slave, but you taught me I was free. I was your object, but you swore it was success. You taught me that my purpose in life was to be on display, to attract and be beautiful for men. You had me believe that my body was created to market your cars. And you raised me to think I was an ugly duckling. But you lied. Islam tells me, I’m a Swan. I’m different-it’s meant to be that way. And my body; my soul was created for something more. God says in the Qur’an:

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Al-Muttaqun (the pious). Verily, Allah is all-Knowing, Well-Acquainted (with all things)”. [Ay’at 13, Surah Al-Hujurat, Part 26]

So I’m honored. But it is not by my relationship to men. My value as a woman is not measured by the size of my waist or the number of men who like me. My worth as a human being is measured on a higher scale; a scale of righteousness and piety. And my purpose in life- despite what the fashion magazines say- is something more sublime than just looking good for men. And so God tells me to cover myself, to hide my beauty and to tell the world that I’m not here to please men with my body; I’m here to please God with my deeds. God elevates the dignity of a woman’s body by commanding that it be respected and covered, shown only to the deserving-only to the man I marry. So to those who wish to ‘liberate’ me, I have only one thing to say: Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not here to be on display. And my body is not for public consumption. I’ll not be reduced to an object, or a pair of legs to sell shoes. I’m a soul; a mind; a servant of God. My worth is defined by the beauty of my soul, my heart, my moral character. So I won’t worship your beauty standards, and I don’t submit to your fashion sense. My submission is to something higher. With my veil I put my faith on display-rather than my beauty. And I have faith in ALLAH. So you see, as a Muslim Woman, I’ve been liberated from a silent kind of bondage. I don’t answer to the slaves of God on earth, I answer to the KING. Women with Hij’ab have enough freedom in their homes, family and in their society with which they are comfortable and don’t need any more freedom as is often suggested by the non-Muslims, which is absurd and leads them to nowhere. Muslims ladies using Hij’ab are graceful, protected and need no show-off of their bodies as the westerner or non-Muslim women, who look ugly dejected and remain always in a state of tension to gain more masculine attraction. But if these Muslim ladies don’t care from where they are learning; their deen; and what their beliefs are, they are still defeated no matter they are using Hij’ab.

I LOVE ALLAH AND I LOVE MY RELIGION ISLAM.

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show-off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, head-cover, apron, etc.), and to draw their veils all over Juyubihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful”. [Ay’at 31, Surah An-Nur, Part 18]

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”.

Abu Hurairah (R.A) reported Allah’s Messenger (P.B.U.H) having said this:

“Two kinds of people would be in the worst situation in Hell. First, those officials who would carry with them whips looking like the tails of cows and they would use them for whipping people. Secondly, those women who would be naked despite wearing clothes (due to wearing see through and tight clothes) who would attract strangers (men) towards them and will themselves be attracted to them. Their heads will be on a side like the humps of fast camels. They will neither enter Paradise nor would they even smell the fragrance of Paradise which will reach for distances”.

Hazrat Mohammad (P.B.U.H) said:

“A women who reveals her body, wears tight fitting clothes and flirts with men other than her husband won’t even have access to the fragrance of Jannah (Heaven)”.

Wake up all of you Muslim Women, be yourself, derive the real meaning of your existence, being in veils is your true freedom!