Madina Archives

Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board

The Question of Hijab These Days
Arsalan
10/09/01 at 23:41:51
[slm] I got this from the Zaytuna web site.  Thought it was an interesting fatwa: The Question of Hijab These Days After the tragedy of September 11, many Muslim women have been feeling a sense of fear, and, unfortunately, some have even experienced aggression due to the misdirected backlash that has resulted from the tragedy. According to Shaykh Hamza, as per the advice of [url=http://www.zaytuna.org/conferences/unity/bios/bin-baiyyah.html]Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah[/url], if a woman is certain or feels a high probability of danger when outside of her home, particularly in some areas of this country, then the best place for her at this time is in her home. If she must go out by necessity and feels a real sense of fear, then in such circumstances, especially if she does not have a male to protect her, she is permitted by shari'ah to protect herself. Necessities have their own rulings. Much of the Prophetic Law of Islam is based upon maslahah, or the Common Good, and it is rational and merciful. The essential reason for the ruling of hijab is to protect women. Since wearing the hijab may not serve that purpose these days in some areas and may in fact put a woman in danger, then the ruling changes under such circumstances. A fatwa written by Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah concerning this is being translated for distribution and will hopefully be available as soon as it is ready. Another aspect of this issue is that Muslims should not knowingly elicit wrong actions such as harm and harassment from others because in Islam there is a very strong emphasis on Muslims not being the cause of fitnah for the disbelievers. In fact, there is a verse in the Quran in which the believers seek protection from this: "Our Lord! Do not make us a trial for those who disbelieve, and forgive us, our Lord! Surely, You are the Mighty, the Wise" (60.5). Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah stressed that this ruling is not something new based on ijtihad but that this is, in fact, based upon the hukm of Allah (an injunction on all Muslims regardless of school of thought). In the circumstances mentioned above, Shaykh Hamza suggests as an alternative that Muslim women consider wearing hats, etc.. The point is that a woman does not have to go out looking obviously like a Muslim these days if she feels she would be the object of harm and harassment. Shaykh Hamza recommends that, at this time in particular, we redouble our efforts to reach out to others and to educate them about Islam. He notes that, generally, the response has been positive; many of our fellow Americans are sensitive to the present situation and are troubled by bigotry and hate crimes. He also advises the following: doing a great deal of istighfaar increasing prayer on the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam calling on Allah by His name "al-Latif" reciting the Du'ah an-Nasiri reciting the adhkar found in The Prophetic Invocations by Imam al-Haddad reciting the hizb of Imam an-Nawawi performing each salat with Hudur (presence of mind and heart) praying for all of humanity

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
Saleema
10/10/01 at 00:03:06
[slm] The fatwa that came out of al-azhar was worded much differently. so who to believe? [wlm]

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
se7en
10/10/01 at 01:10:15
as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatAllah, I recently received an email from a brother who spoke personally with Shaykh Yusuf Qardawi, Shaykh Faisal Mawlawi, as well as Shaykh Bin Baiyyah a few days after the September 11th incident.   Interesting stuff.. but easily misconstrued :)  If you're interested, send me an email inshaAllah.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
NewJehad
10/10/01 at 10:23:46
It is the job of the Ulimah to teach the Sharia, not make excuses for people to brake from it. Bush said terrorism is the enemy, not Islam. I think this translates to: you can be Muslim if you want, just stay away from its laws. Didn't Allah make this world a wide expanse. Many other places to live if you get scared.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
se7en
10/10/01 at 12:47:52
[quote]It is the job of the Ulimah to teach the Sharia, not make excuses for people to brake from it. [/quote] It is the job of the ulema to teach people shariah, and shariah includes concepts like "daroora" and "rukhsa".   I think Allah, in His infinite wisdom, included these concepts fora reason.  Don't you? wAllahu a'lam. wasalaamu alaykum.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
NewJehad
10/10/01 at 13:13:27
I would have explained why the above arguments are invalid, but I didn't cause I knew my post would have been deleted. I have had the same arguments. Arguments when Allah's deen becomes cumbersome are common to change its rulings. They affect every issue of Islam. It is nothing knew, as the Christians and Jews did it before us. The issue of fear is some thing well known to Muslims. It is on issues where the danger to life is clear. And then only allows the amount that is needed for life. Like eating enough pork to live when you are starving with no other food. I advice people to stick to the advice of their local Imams, the ones they know personally and can vouch for their truthfulness from personal experience. Answers you get may be very different. It is not farad to live where you live. It is not farad to leave your houses. It is not farad to walk out alone.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
se7en
10/10/01 at 13:32:04
[quote]but I didn't cause I knew my post would have been deleted.[/quote] ??? Again, posts are not deleted/edited unless they violate the Constitution.  It is not something done arbitrarily or emotionally (inshaAllah).  If you don't violate the rules in the Constitution, you should be fine inshaAllah.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
BroHanif
10/10/01 at 18:00:34
[quote]Many other places to live if you get scared[/quote] Like where, please list three places where I could take my family. And no don't be scared of the enemy, be scared of Allah. All this time we neglected the deen, turned to sin instead of Allah. Well folks yesterday it was Bosnia, Kashmir, Cheychan and Palestine. Today Afghanistan. Tomorrow, it may be your own country.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
kiwi25
10/10/01 at 19:12:04
salam, my local imam (shiekh mukhtar maghraiou) gave a lecture about this: Only if the sister feels for insecure about her safety, then it is permitted that she may take off the hijab again for her safety only.   places like NYC for example, MANY muslim women have taken off their hijab because NYC is where the most tradegy occured, therefore the poeple there are more shooken up and will react negatively to muslims around them..... and as soem of us have heard and seen, there were many dangers to muslims afterwards...... wasalaam, nouha:)

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
NewJehad
10/11/01 at 06:53:58
Why are they living in New York then? If it is impossible for them to live in a place according to Allah’s law, then they must leave. They should go to another part of America. Or another nation. Many people do. To escape war or poverty. Any way the time when it is lawful to do Harram is at points where the danger is certain. Like some one pointing a gun at your head and asking you to remove your hijab or else he will shot. Just like the issue of pork being lawful when you are starving. It is true there is no place today where Muslims have absolute security, but that has never existed anywhere ever. That will only exist in Jannah. But there are many places in the world, including New York where the danger of death due to wearing hijab is not definite, like death due to not eating pork when there is no other food is definite. But if the lady thinks she will definitely die if she leaves her house with Hijab, and she will die of starvation if she does not leave cause she has no other means of feeding her self, she still has the option of moving some where else where death is not definite. You can't decide to live in a place where the only food is pork, and then say I have no other chose. The reason for hijab is not to give women security as mentioned above, it is to cover her awrah. Before the verse of hijab was revealed the awarah was different. But the people were still Muslims obeying Allah. The fact that Muslim women do not get molested when they wear hijab is a consequence of wearing it not the reason. The reason for wearing it is because Allah says. Hijab is one of the issues, like riba and Jihad that people want to remove from Islam. Because the people before us have done so. The excuses that people have produced to do so are nothing new. I advise people to look in to the religion of the Christians and Jews, to see how they justified by passing Allah's laws. Then you will see how much we have in common.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
kiwi25
10/11/01 at 18:28:12
salam, there are hardships in life and one of them is that people, including muslims, cant just get up and leave a place.  there are other factors to look at such as 'are they financially capable', maybe theyre not so they cant leave.   we cant argue agaisnt islam and say that a muslimah cant take of her hijab at a tiem like this when it is permissible and say she has no choice but to move. now that it has been a month, alhumdulilah things have calmed down and those who took off their hijab will realize that they can go back to wearing it and inshallah they will.... wasalam, nouha:)

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
Moe
10/11/01 at 19:09:46
[quote] Well folks yesterday it was Bosnia, Kashmir, Cheychan and Palestine. Today Afghanistan.[/quote] that reminded me of this quote "First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.  Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.  Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.  Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me." - Pastor Martin Niemoller regarding the Nazi reign.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
Saleema
10/12/01 at 19:33:50
POST BY JENNA: As'salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh!! Dearest Sisters, This is a very difficult time for us Muslims. Especially Muslim Women.  We are all scared because we know what is going to happen; it is already starting. Kuffars have always hated us because we say Lailaha illAllah! Now due to the fact of what happened on Sep 11th the hate is now worse then it is has ever been. The question on our minds is "How are we Women going to protect ourselves"?  This is a very understandable question. We are now contemplating "Should we take off our Hijaab and Islaamic Dress"? the answer my sisters is NO! We should not fear people, we should ONLY fear Allah Ta'aala He is the one we will answer to NOT man, He is the One who will judge us NOT man. During the times of the Prophet Muhammad (saw), he and his people were harassed and tortured because they wanted to practice Islaam the correct way. We should not take off our Hijaab in fear of men but yet keep it on as a symbol of proudness and as letting the people know that we are NOT scared of men and we NOT let them make us put aside our religion due to this situation!! And if ye are slain or die in the way of Allah forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all they could amass. (Suarh 3 Ayah 157) If Allah helps you none can overcome you: if He forsakes you who is there after that that can help you?  In Allah then let believers put their trust. (Surah 3 Ayah 160) Think not of those, who are slain in the way of Allah, as dead. Nay, they are living. With their Lord they have provision. (Surah 3 Ayah 169) Yea to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; and to Allah is the final goal (of all). (Surah 24 Ayah 42) Those who believed and those who suffered exile and fought (and strove and struggled) in the path of Allah they have the hope of the Mercy of Allah; and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. (Surah 2. Ayah 218) And their Lord hath accepted of them and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you be he male or female: ye are members one of another; those who have left their homes or been driven out therefrom or suffered harm in My cause or fought or been slain verily I will blot out from them their iniquities and admit them into gardens with rivers flowing beneath; a reward from the presence of Allah and from His presence is the best of rewards." (Surah 3 AYah 195) But verily thy Lord to those who leave their homes after trials and persecutions and who thereafter strive and fight for the faith and patiently persevere thy Lord after all this is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. (Surah 16 Ayah 110) And We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience (Suarh 47 Ayah 31) We should not take off our hijaab due to the threat of man!! We should keep our hijaab on and try to stay out of the public, and for those of us who must go out, we must put our trust in Allah Subhan'wa ta'aala alone!! He is our ONLY Protector! Nay Allah is your Protector and He is the best of helpers. (Suarh 3 Ayah 150) That is because Allah is the Protector of those who believe but those who reject Allah have no protector. (Surah 47 Ayah 11) On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear.  It gets every good that it earns and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray): "Our Lord! condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear.  Blot out our sins and grant us forgiveness.  Have mercy on us.  Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against faith."   (Suarh 2 Ayah 286) Also, what about during the times of the Prophet when they declared the Message in the street? Screaming Lailaha illAllah, even when the people were cursing them and throwing stones at them. I swear to you if those poeple had of have the same mentality as some people, Islaam would have never been established. The Muslims would have been to scared to practise. With people telling others "its okay to take it off" whats next? Men shaving thier beards? Not attending prayer?? I was told by sisters that the masjids on fridays were very near empty!! Astagfirllah!! What is happning to people Where is our fight to stand up and be not be scared of men Ii see the Police oficers protecting our Masjids! Where are the Muslim brothers They are the ones that should be protecting the House of Allah! Not Kuffar. Sisters are being attacked! Where are the Muslim brothers to help these sisters, by delivering their groceries and helping them out?? What about Summaya the first marty of Islaam. They told her denouce Allah ta'aala or Die. yet she didnt!! and she was killed for that!!!   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Question: Assalamu alaikum Is it true that Sumaya was the first "shahida" (martyr) in Islam ? Answer: Praise be to Allaah.Ibn Hijr (may Allaah have mercy on him) says in his book Al-Isaabah fi Tamyeez al-Sahaabah, where he gives a biography of Sumayah:“The daughter of Khabbaat and the mother of ‘Ammaar ibn Yaasir, she was the seventh person to enter Islam. She was tortured by Abu Jahl who stabbed her in her private parts, and she died. She was the first shaheedah (martyr) in Islaam… Al-Mujaahid said: The first seven to publicly declare their Islam in Makkah were: the Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), Abu Bakr, Bilaal, Khabbaab, Suhayb, ‘Ammaar and Sumaya. The Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and Abu Bakr were protected by their own people, but the others were forced to wear iron shields then were exposed to the burning sun. Abu Jahl came to Sumaya and stabbed her in her private parts, killing her. This was reported by Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah from Mujaahid; it is mursal and its isnaad is saheeh. Ibn Sa’d reported with a saheeh isnaad from Mujaahid: The first martyr in Islam was Sumayah, the mother of ‘Ammaar ibn Yaasir. She was an old, weak woman (according to a report narrated by al-Bayhaqi: Abu Jahl stabbed her in her private parts. Al-Dalaa’il, 2/282). When Abu Jahl was killed on the day of Badr, the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said (to ‘Ammaar): ‘Allaah has killed the one who killed your mother.’” (al-Isaabah, 4/327; al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah by Ibn Katheer, 3/59). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She didnt forsake Islaam and she was about to DIE!! Oh Allah forgive our sins and help us to be the best Muslims that we can be. Oh Allah protect us and our families. Please help us to get out of this country and help us to establish an Islaamic State again!! Help our brothers to be strong and help our Sisters to stay strong through this very trying time. We know you are our Only Protector and Sustainer!! You are Al-Aziz & Al-Adl (the Al-Mighty and The Just)!! Lailaha ilAllah!! Your Sis in Islaam Jenna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. (from a poem) ~~~~~ Oh Allah forgive our sins and help us to be the best Muslims that we can be. Oh Allah protect us and our families. Please help us to get out of this country and help us to establish an Islaamic State again!! Help our brothers to be strong and help our Sisters to stay strong through this very trying time. We know you are our Only Protector and Sustainer!! You are Al-Aziz & Al-Adl (the Al-Mighty and The Just)!! Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raja'un (My du'aa) ~~~~~~~ http://AllahsWay.com (my site)

careful
se7en
10/13/01 at 00:38:21
as salaamu alaykum, Think about this. From Anwar al-Awlaqi Lives of the Prophets, Volume 3, Tape 4: [color=black] "..If you don't know something, you need to ask, because we have a situation which is mentioned in hadeeth, in Abu Dawud: Jabir said, 'We were traveling and there was a man with us who got injured with a stone - a rock injured him in his head.  Then, that night he had a wet dream, so when he woke up in the morning he was in a state of janabah.  He asked those with him, 'Do you find any excuse [rukhsa] for me to make Tayammum?  Is it allowed for me to make Tayammum?' They said, 'We don't find any excuse [rukhsa] for you.  You are able to touch water, and you have to make Ghusl.'  They gave him this fatwa. He performed ghusl - and he died. News of this was carried to Rasulullah [saw] and he said: 'They killed him.  May Allah kill them.  Why do they answer if they do not know?  The cure of ignorance is asking.  It was sufficient for him to make Tayammum, and then later Ghusl with his head wrapped in cloth.' We learn from this hadeeth two things.  One, we need to ask if we don't know, and also something else important: Don't give fatwa if you don't know. W'Allahi, I have brothers coming to me telling me things they've been told - Unbelievable!  People giving fatwa right and left - May Allah forgive us all, we all make mistakes, but sometimes there are some of us, whenever a question is presented they have an answer - they have an answer to everything! You can answer a question and cause the death of somebody like this. The shariah is not a game that you play with.   When you don't know - say Allahu 'Alam. [...]" [/color]

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
NewJehad
10/15/01 at 14:18:06
The issue of fear is not a fatwa. it is a well known issue. It is where death is clear and so is life. Open season has been decleared against our shriah for a very long time. Instead of making excuses for people to brake shariah rules so they can live amoung the disbeliever, isn't it about time that people started telling them to move to somewhere where  they can wear hijab and do all the other stuff they find difficult living amoung the Kaffar? you may argue that you have seen many fatwas forbiding stuff that some people say Allah has made lawful. what i have seen is even more people producing fatwas for them selves allowing each and every thing the wispers shatan tell them they want.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
learner
10/19/01 at 22:44:36
slm so brother NewJehad which country are you talking about that you want the muslims living among the kuffar to move? If this country has such good atmosphere and welcome immigrants I would love to raise my children(future inshallah) there. Well I have enough arguments for not leavign US but that's a different matter. So brother tell us where you live? Jazakallah

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
NewJehad
10/20/01 at 09:45:28
slm If what the Ulimah mentioned abave as a excuse to remove hijab is true, America does not really welcome immigrants. Most countries allaw people to cover themselves with out being attacked. Any way even with out WTO, i feel people who live amoung the kaffar should leave. As what kind of people would like to live amoung the kaffar in prefrence to the believers? And it is not true that you can practice Islam in peace in the west, If a family member yours dies, they may be  cut up for a post mortum. If A kaffar working for the social services decides that they dont like the Islamic upbringing you give to your kids, your kids could be taken away and given to a lesbian couple for adoption.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
se7en
10/20/01 at 10:39:42
[quote] i feel people who live amoung the kaffar should leave. As what kind of people would like to live amoung the kaffar in prefrence to the believers? [/quote] I think Brother Jehad, that we've had this discussion many, many, many times. Jehad, if you don't mind me asking, where do you live?

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
Saleema
10/22/01 at 22:22:05
[slm] Speaking of immigrants, in California they have billboards on the side of the roads saying that immigrants are not welcome. I wonder who constitutes as am immigrant in the U.S.? Blue eyes and blond hair? As far as I remember, they came here as immigrants too, just been here longer than the rest of us. I think most governments around the world oppress people, (and not just the muslim peoples), and all infinge on the rights of people in one way or another. In a way Jihad is right, wether we want to admit it to our selves or not. He's just not very nice about being politically correct :) [wlm]

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
NewJehad
10/22/01 at 05:54:30
slm seven London. i did not choose to live here,, accedent of birth. any way,  we have all heard what i say about living in the west, "treat britian like a toilet, do what you have to do and then get out", getting ready to leave inshalllah. but if revealing my awrah was a condition of living here. then i would just leave without getting ready. Might might say that if worse comes to worse you might have to live in a wacath provided house or a refugy camp, but isnt that better then showing your awrah? you might feel ashamed at living in a charity provided house in a muslim country, but wont you feel more ashamed if men you never met before are busy looking at bits of you that only your muhram are allawed to see.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
se7en
10/22/01 at 09:00:57
wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatAllah, [quote] i did not choose to live here,, accedent of birth. [/quote] I'm assuming that you are no longer a child.  You don't have the ability to leave the country?  Is someone forcing you to live in London? [quote] "treat britian like a toilet, do what you have to do and then get out" [/quote] That's a pretty sick attitude I have to say.  What does that mean?  Use it for whatever financial and material gain it will give you, but do nothing to reform the society's ills or guide people to Islam? Look, let's put aside everything for a minute and focus on one thing:  if someone thinks it's wrong to live in a majority non-Muslim country, truly thinks that it is haram (meaning they will be punished by Allah for it) -- then what are they doing here?

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
Mujaahid
10/22/01 at 12:31:45
as salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullaahi ta'ala wa barakaatuh Insha'Allaah I would like to say some things in respect to this topic. Firstly with akhi Jehad - ya akhi this isnt the good attitude to have with regards the using of the society to one's owns means and not to work to make the deen of Allaah clear to the people, or to call them to it - I am sure you have heard of the man who was destroyed with those whom did not practice Islaam eventhough he had practiced the religion with devotion and unending sincerity - yet he did not go into the society and make aware to the people the beauty of Allaah's word and the example of his prophet S.A.W and he did not go to them to better them, but stayed on a path of seclusion and turning away from the society. Akhi the Muslims are not the people to turn the cheek on the society which has vice and bad in it, we strive to better what we see around us so that we can better ourselves in our understanding of the deen, and then better those around us by making this clear to them. Then let me give you some evidence insha'Allaah. "Invite to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided." [an-Nisaa':125] "Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining al-ma`roof [i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do] and forbidding al-Munkar [polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden]. And it is they who are successful." [Aal `Imraan :104] So we can see with these verses that to invite to the way of our lord, whether this be in the land of the kuffar, or in the lands of the Muslims, is an obligation upon the believers, and then notice also we do this with wisdom and fair/fine preaching - akhi then we can't treat the society Allaah has placed us into like the "toilet" because this is not in accordance with teaching people with wisdom and understanding and compassion, this will harden the hearts and distort the beauty of Islaam, the people need to be brought closer to the deen, not driven from it in what would seem a hostile action of an "opportunist" or "leech" who takes and takes, but then doesn't return - and akhi when I mean to return, I mean to return with preaching and practicing Islaam in front of the people, this is the best of returns you can give. To continue. The Prophet S.A.W has said: "Convey from me, even one verse." [al-Bukhaari] "Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs, evidences and the guidance, which We have sent down, after We have made it clear for the people in the book, they are the ones cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers." [al-Baqarah :159] The Prophet S.A.W has stated, "Whoever hides knowledge, Allah will brand him with the branding iron from the hellfire." [Ahmad] "And who is better in speech than he who invites to Allah and does righteous deeds, and says: 'I am one of the Muslims.'" [Fussilat :33] By these we should see that to use the society and walk away from the people whom you can see are in bad deeds and neglecting their duties and rememberance of Allaah it is as if a person conceals this from them - for if you have that understanding in the mind and the heart, and you see the opposite of it, then what is walking away if not a concelament of the truth and a better way? And this is commanded on us akhi, that the better way is spread through the lands, whomever is in more control of them, kuffar or believers, because that eliminates the evil deeds to spread, and that will perpetuate the good, and the Prophet S.A.W said  "Whoever guides [another] to a good deed will get a reward similar to the one who performs it." [Saheeh Muslim] and also "By Allah, if Allah were to guide one man through you it would be better for you than the best type of camels." [al-Bukhaari, Muslim] - so then why would a believer even WISH to walk away and use the society, and not to turn back, even if for only a short time, and work with the people to bring them closer to Allaah? And akhi even the scholars have said this to us, the major scholars of Saudi, just to name one body amongst the learned of our Ummah, have said " But whoever is able to establish the rituals of Islam within his family and establish evidence against the rulers and people in authority, and bring about reform, making them change their ways, then it is prescribed for him to stay among them, because there is the hope that by staying there he may be able to convey the message and reform them..." So it is not just the matter of using a society that is in the lands of the kuffar, ignoring the people or using the people in it, and then moving onto the other lands where there are Muslims, without having at least made the effort to change and to work for the better with those disbelievers, Allaahu alam why it is you are in that place the "accident" of birth does not happen akhi, there is no accidents in this regards, it is Qadar Allaah that you had/are there, so bring about what is good in the best way you can, and plan and work for what is better (by moving or staying there to work with the people) without turning away from the society or using it, because that is destruction akhi - it breeds the ignorance and arrogance, and these are not the qualities of the Muslims. Allaahu alam this is advice for me more and before you, and this is insha'Allaah useful to us all. And on the note that sister se7en had said, that I would agree with her mainly, eventhough it is not as black and white as just "moving", Hijrah is highly recommended to say the least, but there are brothers who have to care for those whom they have a duty to provide for, and to just move, eventhough this is what they regard as the most correct thing to do, it is not as easy as that. However as I hope that insha'Allaah I showed there may be greater good in staying. We should remember that the verse... "Verily, as for those whom the angels take while they are wronging themselves, they (angels) say (to them): In what (condition) were you? They reply: We were weak and oppressed on the earth. They (angels) say: Was not the earth of Allaah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein? Such men will find their abode in Hell what an evil destination!"[an-Nisaa'] Does not establish the behaviour for a believer to act in arrogance or isolation or to turn from the society and only to take from it - we are the best nation amongst the mankind, and we say that with thanks to Allaah, not in pride or boastfulness, and we have the duty to spread what we have been blessed with. Allaahu alam and may Allaah guide us all to that which is best. was salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullaahi ta'ala wa barakaatuh

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
Anonymous
10/23/01 at 23:16:59
[slm] Surah al-Waaqi3ah talks about 3 types of people that will exist on the Day of Judgment. 1. The Saabiqoon/Muqarraboon (those that will be the nearest to Allah in the Afterlife). 2. The As-haab al-yameen (the people of the right) 3. The As-haab al-shimaal (the people of the left) When Allah (SubHana Wa Ta`ala ) describes the first category, those that are ahead of everyone else, He says that they will contain “plenty of people from the earlier generations, and very few from the latter ones.” This is a pretty emphatic statement, if you think about it, which tells us that the earlier generations, especially the generation of Sahabah, were extremely special. So special that the like of them will never again rise on this Earth. This is why the Prophet said in the famous hadeeeth: "The best of generations is my generation. Then the one that follows it. Then the one that follows it." 1400 years later, we can't even think of comparing ourselves to the generation of the Sahabah. This is why they faced the toughest of tests. Things that are considered mubaah [permissible] for us, they would have forbidden themselves from doing them. This is indeed why they were chosen, every one of them, by the Decree of Allah, to spread the Message at the very beginning. None of us would have been able to face the hardships that any one of the Sahabah faced in their lifetime. This is something that is well established. Furthermore, the standards which will be used by Allah (SubHana Wa Ta`ala ) to judge us will be much lower than those that will be used to judge the Sahabah. This is why we find the Prophet saying that a man from the Sahabah would be thrown into the Hell Fire because he gave up 10% of his Deen. Yet a man from later generations would be given Paradise because he clung to 10% of his Deen (aw kamaa qaal). But even among the Sahaabah, we see that some are given a higher rank over the others. People like Abu Bakr Siddiq, Umar, Abu Ubaydah, Uthman, Ali, etc. are at a much higher level than others. We often find the Muhajireen being favored over the Ansaar, both in the Qur'an and the Seerah, because they accepted Islam when the times were extremely tough ... in Makkah. But there's another reason why the Muhajireen have a higher status. Do you know why ? Hint: look at their name ... Muhajireen They performed Hijrah!!! They left their homes, their properties, wealth, families, everything, in order to practice their Deen free from persecution. It is one of the most difficult things that the Sahabah ever endured. Hijrah! And you expect us, *us*, to do that? It’s a very simple thing to say, but a very difficult thing to do. If it was simple, the Qur’an would not say that a very few people from the latter generations would be among the Muqarraboon. If it was so simple, the Prophet would not have said that the best of generations was his Companions. Don’t get me wrong. By no means am I saying that we should not strive to be like the Sahaabah. We should. That’s what being a Muslim is all about, to strive to be like the Sahaabah. But we should realize the enormous standard that lays in front of us, and we should understand that a lot of our Muslim brothers and sisters are still working their way up from the bottom of the ladder of imaan to achieve that level. There’s one more thing that needs to be remembered. We Muslims are people who are supposed to carry a double-standard! Yes, you read it right. We are supposed to have a double-standard towards things. We always put higher standards for ourselves than we put for our brothers and sisters. For example, we may congratulate our brother for winning a Qur’an recitation contest, but we may not participate in such contests ourselves (because of a dislike for being in the spotlight, etc.) We should punish ourselves severely when we miss the fajr prayer, but we should talk gently and kindly to a fellow brother/sister who misses it. We should give him/her naseeha [advice] in private, and help him overcome his/her weakness by encouraging him/her and motivating him/her. If we see a brother/sister being utterly distressed for committing a sin, we should tell him that s/he should have hope in Allah (SubHana Wa Ta`ala) and that if his repentance is sincere, he’ll surely be forgiven. We should help him cheer up, and get over his grief. But when we ourselves commit such a sin, we should be hard on ourselves. We should fear Allah’s wrath and mourn and repent until we have no tears left in our eyes to shed. Unfortunately, I don’t see this double-standard in this thread! In fact, what I see is a totally different kind of double-standard. A kind of double-standard where the standards that we put for ourselves are lower than the ones we put for others! So where it is completely haraam for others to live in a non-Muslim country (because they cannot practice their Deen to its fullest), it’s okay for us to live there until it is convenient enough for us to move (if that time will ever come)! Subhan Allah. Allah (SubHana Wa Ta`ala ) describes the believers as those who are “strong on the disbelievers and merciful towards each other.” Where is this mercy that we are supposed to show towards each other? Where is the hikmah that we are supposed to practice while giving naseeha? It also baffles me that such naseeha of leaving the non-Muslim land is being given to people who are rarely independent! Muslim women always have a guardian over them without whose permission they cannot even travel alone (in most cases) let alone move permanently to a different country! So how can you expect a wife to move to a different country if her husband wants to stay here? Or a daughter if her parents want to stay here? And then consider the different backgrounds that Muslims in the west carry with them. While I can understand telling an immigrant Muslim to move back to their original homeland when it becomes tough for them to practice their Deen in the west, the advice is not all that easy to swallow for a Muslim whose home is the west itself! This is a big difference, one that even the scholars take into consideration when talking about the issue of “Muslims residing in non-Muslim lands.” Indeed there are circumstances where something may be recommended for the immigrant Muslims, but may be discouraged for the indigenous Muslims. And it is the scholars who deduce the rulings that apply to each group of people (or, sometimes, individuals) according to their particular situation and circumstances. The scholars are held in a very high esteem in Islam. This is because they possess knowledge and wisdom, both things that are sacred. It does not befit us to belittle the ruling of a Shaykh in his absence, in front of people who will most probably never be able to convey our concerns to the particular Shaykh. Aren’t we supposed to give 70 excuses to our brother? Why can’t we give 70 excuses to a Shaykh? When we hear a fatwa which does not make sense to us (based on the limited knowledge that we have), why can’t we tell ourselves that perhaps there is something that is known to the Shaykh that is not known to us? To the contrary, why do we always think that the Shaykh did not look at the issue from the perspective that we are looking at it from? Do we consider ourselves so blessed that we think we can make such fiqhi conclusions that a Shaykh may not have thought about (with all his knowledge and wisdom)? Or do we think that we have more knowledge and hikmah than the shuyookh? Things are getting really tough for the Muslims all over the world, including the west. We need to help each other in these tough times, not shoot each other down. Let’s be kind with each other, understand each other's problems and weaknesses, and find excuses for each other. Let’s change ourselves before we change others, and let’s give the scholars their due respect. Let’s think before we write a post, and let’s think again after we have written it! I ask your forgiveness if I have offended you in any way, and I ask Allah (SubHana Wa Ta`ala ) to help us all do what is pleasing to Him, to give us patience, to help us see Truth as Truth and give us the ability to follow it, and to help us see falsehood as falsehood and give us the ability to avoid it. Ameen. Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
Jenna
10/23/01 at 06:15:08
[slm] Staying in their countries when there is no need to do so. Allaah forbade the weak and oppressed Muslims to stay among the kaafirs if they are able to migrate. He says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily! As for those whom the angels take (in death) while they are wronging themselves (as they stayed among the disbelievers even though emigration was obligatory for them), they (angels) say (to them): ‘In what (condition) were you?’ They reply, ‘We were weak and oppressed on earth.’ They (angels) say: ‘Was not the earth of Allaah spacious enough for you to emigrate therein?’ Such men will find their abode in Hell –what an evil destination! Except the weak ones among men, women and children, who cannot devise a plan, nor are the able to direct their way.” [al-Nisa’ 4:97-98]. Nobody will be excused for staying in a kaafir country except for those who are truly weak and oppressed and cannot migrate, or those who stay among them for a valid religious purpose such as da’wah and spreading Islam in their countries. It is forbidden to live among them when there is no need to do so. The Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I disown the one who stays among the mushrikeen.” Jenna :-)

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
amal
10/23/01 at 09:25:20
slm, The following is an excerpt from the book "Priorities of the islamic movement in the coming phase" by Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, a renowned *scholar* of islam. It deals with the issue of muslim expatriates in [i]traditionally[/i] non-muslim countires. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [color=blue]Why The Interest In Expatriates?[/color] Expatriates are no longer few in number: they are counted in millions, especially in France where there are large communities of North Africans; in Britain where Indian and Pakistanis go; in Germany due to the presence of Turks; and in the United States because of the presence of Americans who descend from Muslim ancestors who were kidnapped from Africa long ago as well as the intensive immigration to that country. There is not a single Western country that does not have transient expatriates, who go there to study or work, anti permanent immigrants who intended to stay there for good. Despite the numerous recommendations by different Islamic conferences that scholarships should be confined to those scientific and technological fields that Muslim countries do not have, Western countries still receive more newcomers who go there everyday at their own expense or at the expense of their countries to study. More expatriates are also leaving Muslim countries for Western countries in search for employment or to seek protection or freedom. [color=green]Allah the Almighty says, (O My servants who believe! Truly, spacious is My Earth. Therefore serve Me ­ [and Me alone]!) [Surat Ankabut: 56].[/color] The presence of the Islamic Movement in Western countries was at first guided by the Almighty and not planned by the Movement. Young men and women had emigrated there to escape with their religion from the rifts tearing their homeland apart and to seek knowledge, freedom and safety, then they found very good opportunities for working and spreading the Call amongst their fellow Easterners, scholars and others alike. [color=blue]The Necessity Of Islamic Presence In The West[/color] I believe that it is necessary for Islam in this age to have a presence in such societies that affect world politics. Islamic presence is necessary in Europe, the Americas and Australia for several reasons, including the following: 1- Islamic presence is required for spreading the Message of Islam and getting Islam's voice heard among non­Muslims through good word, rational dialogue and exemplary conduct. 2- It is required for taking in new Muslims in order to follow their conduct and nurture their belief in an Islamic environment that helps them lead a healthy Islamic life. 3- It is required for receiving newcomers to Western countries, such as scholars and immigrants, so that such newcomers may find themselves among people like the "Ansar" [the people of Medina who received the Prophet well and supported him at the time of hijra] who love those who migrate to their land and provide for them an atmosphere of Islam. 4- It is required for defending the causes of the Muslim Nation and the Muslim Land against the antagonism and misinformation of anti­Islamic forces and trends. [color=red]It is not right, in my view, that Christianity should monopolize all these countries unrivalled, or rivaled by Zionist Judaism that only joins forces with it against us.[/color] This is what I told our brothers in America, Canada, Australia and other countries years ago. However, it should be done through good plans and proper organization and according to the fiqh of priorities. We should look for the best place, the best work and the best means. Muslims should have their own communities in well­known states and cities, and they should have their own religious, educational and recreational establishments. They should also have amongst them their own ulema and men of religion to answer their questions when they ask them, guide them when they lose the way and reconcile them when they differ among themselves. [color=blue]A Conservatism Without Isolation, And An Openness without Melting[/color] I used to tell our brothers in foreign countries, "Try to have your small society within the larger society, otherwise you will melt in it like salt in water. What has preserved the Jewish character over the past centuries was their small community that was unique in its ideas and rituals and was known as "the Jewish ghetto". Try to have your own "Muslim ghetto then". I am not advocating self­isolation and keeping our doors closed to the people around us, for this will be the same as death itself: what is required is openness without melting ­ the openness of people with a message who seek to affect and interact, not people who imitate and whose only concern is to go along and be affected to the extent of following in the very steps of others, whatever they do. We have complained for some time of the drain of Arab and Muslim brains in important fields of specialization as a result of the migration of scientists who fail to find a place for themselves in their home countries but find it in foreign countries. If this is true, we must not let such geniuses lose their loyalty to their religion, their nation, their culture and their fatherlands. We have to exert every effort to ensure that their loyalty and feelings remain with their people and homeland. This will only be possible if their loyalty remains with Allah, His Messenger and the believers, and if they continue to be concerned over the woes of their nation and riot their own interests alone. It is the duty of the Islamic Movement not to leave these expatriates to be swept by the whirlpool of the materialistic trend that prevails in the West, for they must always be reminded of their origins, to which they long all the time. I believe that Islamic student unions have played a praiseworthy role in this respect over the past three decades, after the elapse of the era in which the Leftists, the Nationalists, the Secularists dominated and guided the actions of these unions. No one with a grain of fairness in him can deny the efforts of the Association of Muslim Students in the United States and Canada. The Association has established branch offices and organized several conferences. Other establishments have emanated from it, such as the Union of Islamic Sociologists, the Society of Muslim Scientists and Engineers, the Islamic Medical Society, the Islamic Association in North America and others. There is an intention to base the Movement in the United States, so that it may assume its natural position in a society based on multiplicity and freedom. [color=blue]The Five Duties Of The Muslim Expatriates[/color] I have participated in conferences organized by the Union of Muslim Students for several years. What I saw there was a source of gratification. The same applies to the Society of Muslim Students and the Federation of Islamic Societies in Britain and other organizations in Europe. In my meetings with expatriates, I always reminded them of five duties as follows; -The expatriate's duty to himself: to preserve and develop himself. -The expatriate's duty to his family: to protect it from disruption and establish it on Islam. -The expatriate's duty to his fellow Muslims: to unite with them to form one group. -The expatriate's duty to the non­Muslim community living around him: to invite the members of that community to the way of Allah with wisdom and beautiful preaching. -The expatriate's duty to the causes of his Muslim Nation: to care for them and support them. [color=blue]Warning Against Two Things[/color] There are two serious things that I have to warn about: racial and nationalist sympathies, and extremism and differences. It is regrettable that we should see racial and nationalist sympathies given expression by several Muslim groups, with each closing itself to others and isolating its members from other Muslims, except for those spared [this wrong­doing] by the Grace of Allah. Even the mosques are attributed to this or that group. It is not strange today that when you visit a city you may be told that this is the mosque of the Turks, that is the mosque of the Moroccans, and the third mosque over there is the mosque of the Yugoslavs and the fourth is for Indians, the fifth for Pakistanis; the sixth for Arabs, or a certain group of Arabs. In the United States, in particular, there are special mosques for black Muslims. Islam has come to eliminate the differences among people and make them equal. Mosques are just the tools ordained by Allah for performing this mission, so how can they become a tool for discrimination? True, the language difficulties had made such separation necessary at first for the first generations of expatriates that did not know the native languages of the countries they had migrated to. But this could have been remedied by the allocation of lectures for each group in the same mosque for some time until there was a common language for all the Muslim community in each country or city. However, this separation has become unnecessary in most cases, but the mosques remain attributed to certain groups or nationalities! A mosque should be a mosque for Muslims and nothing else, and the flag under which the expatriates should unite must be the flag of Islam alone. Expatriate Muslims will be strong only if they unite and help each other, for unity is strength, and dissent is weakness. Although solidarity is always required, it is more so in the case of being in an alien land, where one needs others of his kind to help him overcome his loneliness. The second thing I want to warn about is extremism and differences over minor details, a phenomenon that, while still in its bud in Western countries, dates back to some time ago. Our brothers in the East should not carry their differences and problems to the West, reviving and reliving them in their new home countries. For the time, place and people have changed, and these expatriates have been taught by their religious teachers that a fatwa changes with the change of time place and people, so why do not they apply what they have been taught? About ten years ago, I visited the Islamic Center in Los Angeles, where some brothers asked me disapprovingly, "Is it right to show films in a mosque, even if they are educational films?" I replied, "What is in that? If these films teach some thing good, watching them would be an act of worship, and a mosque is a place of worship and a forum for knowledge and education ". I added that the Prophet [peace be upon him] had allowed Abyssinians to dance with their spears in his mosque and had allowed his wife Aisha to watch them and had encouraged them to go on dancing. Others asked, " May women not wearing Islamic dress be allowed to enter the mosque on Saturdays and Sundays, when lectures and lessons are given? "I answered", Yes, because if we restrict the admission into mosques to women who wear Islamic dress, where would others hear the Word of Islam and receive the Message of Allah? If we deny such women access to the mosque and its lectures and lessons, we will lose them forever, for the Call will not reach them. But if we Allow them to go to the mosque, then there is a great hope for them to be guided by Allah to observance of the rules of Islam. Many a true word has been made by Allah to open a heart, even several hearts". At the time I was getting this manuscript ready to go to the press, I received a report, or rather a letter, from my honorable brother, the doctor, scientist, poet and advocate of Islam, Dr. Hassan Hathoot, in which he explained some of the activities performed by the Islamic Center in Los Angeles and the responsibilities carried by the center to help Muslims and non­Muslims alike. It was a letter that would warm the heart of any Muslim who reads it, as it was a true manifestation that Islam will never wither if it has on its side men who combine proper understanding and good intention.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
Arsalan
10/23/01 at 11:23:44
[slm] amal, you typed up that whole excerpt???

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
amal
10/23/01 at 12:05:32
[quote] amal, you typed up that whole excerpt???  [/quote] umm...nooope...there's a nice invention called copy and paste ;)

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
Arsalan
10/23/01 at 12:09:16
[slm] Copy-paste?  What's that??  :) Amazing!  I didn't know that whole book was available online.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
amal
10/23/01 at 12:20:37
Check this [url=http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Default.htm]site[/url] out. It has some of the best islamic books available in english.

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
Ahlam
10/23/01 at 12:37:06
Ever since Sept. 11th my parents, who are not Muslim, have repeatedly asked me not to wear hijab because they think I could be in danger.  Ever since I came to Islam I have been trying to make them understand why I wear hijab, but they cannot understand.  For a few weeks I rarely left my house and was afraid when I did.  After a long time of thinking about everything that is happening, I realized that I cannot be afraid.  I must go on living my life how I should and not worry about what my future holds.  I have faith in Allah that good will prevail in the end.  I have the freedom to wear hijab and believe what I do because I live in America and I am not about to stop because this is still America, my home.  I would rather die standing up for what I believe in than to die a hypocrite!

Re: The Question of Hijab These Days
se7en
10/23/01 at 13:45:54
[quote] Allaah forbade the weak and oppressed Muslims to stay among the kaafirs            if they are able to migrate. [/quote] Many scholars differ on this, and therefore it is an issue that will not be discussed on the board.  Please consult someone knowledgeable for more info on this. wasalaamu alaykum.
Individual posts do not necessarily reflect the views of Jannah.org, Islam, or all Muslims. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the poster and may not be used without consent of the author. The rest © Jannah.Org