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Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Faith & the Muslim Woman |
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| paula |
| 06/19/03 at 03:40:35 |
| [slm][size=2][font=Book Antiqua][color=Purple] F A I T H Author unknown A Muslim Woman She conceals her beauty Obstructs the radiance from seeping through Cloaks her seductively Refuses to submit to the worldly desires Preserves her attractiveness & charm Protects the diamond within She is left savorless Banal Insipid Vapid Yet she remains veiled. She is ridiculed by prejudice Mocked by displayed beauty Taunted by the devil. It shatters her patience Lowers her self esteem But only for a split of a second. She remains veiled. Its strange Incomprehensible Yet marvelous It's faith. [/color][/font][/size] [wlm] |
| 06/19/03 at 03:57:43 |
| paula |
| Re: Faith & the Muslim Woman |
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| paula |
| 06/21/03 at 04:57:56 |
| [slm][size=2][color=Purple] [font=Verdana] This was sent to my e.mail by a fellow sister in Islam.... thought to share it here since it went with the theme of the poem above: [hr] A Muslim Sister's Trials I remember sitting there in school one day sensing a pair of eyes directed at me. I decided to quickly scan the room to see who it was. There she was, sitting a few seats away from me with her inquisitive gaze. I smiled involuntarily thinking to myself "perfect da'wah (invitation to Islam) opportunity". I could see that she was hesitating, so I decided to approach her first. I asked her if there was anything she wanted to know, expecting a flow of typical questions. Yet after the usual "Why do you wear that?", I was struck with an unexpected "Do you feel oppressed?" She is one of the many who is taught by the west that a Muslim woman's covering is a symbol of her oppression and inequality. For the past few years the media has not hesitated in portraying the Muslim woman in a negative light. A while back, the "Montreal Gazette" featured an article written by a Muslim man who was horrified after seeing a Muslim woman wearing a Niqab (Face veil) in downtown Montreal. He felt as if he had gone back in time, as this woman was "out of place" in the west. The man claimed that this image is commonly seen in places such as Pakistan, yet it is completely unexpected here in Canada. Although this is an astonishing case, it is not isolated. "Chatelaine" magazine also published an article that left its readers under the false impression that Muslim women are brainwashed and controlled by the chauvinistic men in their family. This type of media exposure creates problems for Muslim women. Although it opens doors for da'wah, many people remain close-minded, as they refuse to hear an explanation. It is not rare that sisters who are covered receive unwanted and unpleasant comments. I myself am not a stranger to these. I am told, "to go back to my country" on a regular basis. I have lost count of the number of times I have been cursed at and few have even wished me a "Happy Halloween". I have begun to accept the stares knowing that I defy the norm society places on women. An unfortunate trend I seem to notice is that the more a Muslim woman is covered, the more hostile the public becomes. It would however be unfair to focus solely on the negative aspects involved in living as a Muslim woman in the west. Alhamdullilah (Praise be to Allah), the majority of Muslim women do not experience problems, nor do the majority of people act upon their objection. The most positive aspect of being a Muslim woman in the west is that she is literally "walking da'wah". On several occasions, a sister will be walking down the street and will be approached and asked about Islam. From the minute she is seen, she is identified as a Muslim and because of this, she is respected. Her words show her strength in her belief and her ability to fulfill the commandments of Allah. Thus knowing that her actions are done for the sake of Allah, she understands that living in the west has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. Despite the numerous problems Muslims face living in a non-Muslim society, we must always keep in mind the words of Allah: "So Verily, with every hardship comes ease. Verily, with every hardship comes ease." [Qur’an 94:5-6] Written by a Muslim Sister. [/font] [/color][/size] [wlm] |
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