Silent Screams

Have you noticed how you need to think negative when being positive? In order to be positive all the time you need to tell yourself that it could be much worse. This involves contemplating on all the things that could have gone wrong, all the blessings that may have been held back from you, and you need to think about those who have it much worse than you. You would tolerate the heat in the frying pan only if you realised how much worse it is to be directly in the fire.

Being positive does not mean that you filter your mind of all negative thoughts. Rather, you use negative thoughts to bolster your optimism. You will always have to deal with optimism and pessimism. Being a positive thinker entails maintaining the formula : optimism > pessimism.

So I won’t pack up all my pessimism. A little pessimism could make me a more optimistic person.

A paradox, yeah?

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The world has heard of the French ban on hijab and it has heard of the uproar surrounding niqaabis in Europe. All these women who cover up – they aren’t harming anyone, are they? They cover up for themselves and many don’t try to impose these practices on others. These sisters are just doing their own thing; doing what they feel is good and righteous; to guard themselves from evil and avoid dirty glances being thrown at them. So why restrict them?

Are you afraid? Afraid of a woman? Just because she chooses to dress decently? Perhaps you’re not afraid but rather you feel sorry for her because you think she should be free to dress ‘liberally’? Well let me ask you something. Could you define ‘liberty’ in this context? Note that she is not being forced to dress this way. No, in contrast to what you have been lead to believe, she is NOT forced into it. Islam is a truly free religion. Muslims are not forced to practise its teachings. I am a Muslimah and I observe hijab too. Therefore I think my word should count. There is no compulsion in religion. Rather, I learn the religion and practise it out of understanding. Islam lays down rules as guidance for me to lead my life. I don’t simply observe all these rules. As far as possible, I try to comprehend the wisdom behind these rulings; and that drives me to observe.

So was the case with my choosing to observe hijab as a teenager. Yes – choosing, in my teens. I’m sorry to disappoint you dear ‘liberalists’. The males in my family didn’t threaten me to cover up. Instead I told them that I was going to cover up and that I was firm in my decision.

Nobody asked you to work for our freedom. What business is it of yours?? We hijabis are already free. We’re free to go about in public without being “checked out” from top to toe. Our loose clothing makes it all the more tougher for men to undress us with their eyes. We’re free to sit/stand/walk around comfortably without having to adapt ourselves according to our mini-skirts, low-hip jeans or plunging necklines. We’re free to do our hair as we like, or not do it at all, and not worry about what people will think. We have more free time than you do. We don’t spend hours on make-up, hairstyles, or putting together perfectly matching outfits in line with the latest trends. Those of us who wear a cloak- we can wear a skirt even when we don’t have time to shave our legs. Our attire gives us freedom in all weather conditions. Forgetting an umbrella or sun block on a sunny day isn’t a problem. Our scarves protect our hair, our long sleeved cloaks protects our skin. Forgetting an umbrella on a rainy day isn’t always a problem. We can skip through a drizzle without getting wet and falling ill. Wearing a short frock on a windy day isn’t a problem. We can walk freely without looking as though we’re trying to imitate Marilyn Monroe. Missed the alarm and woke up late? No problemo. We can get up, get dressed, and leave the house in all of ten minutes. Ten minutes isn’t enough for you to even choose your shade of lipstick!

This whole post concentrates on the freedom my dress code allows me. However, as a Muslim woman I am free in many more ways. Free to expand my knowledge as much as I wish, free to marry the man I choose, free to spend my wealth as I wish – as my husband has no right over it. I am free in so many aspects. Perhaps I’ll expand on these at another time, insha Allah.

Stop trying to “liberate” us. You dunces only end up making things hard for us. By trying to liberate the woman in Afghanistan you killed her husband, her brother and her son. You bombed her home and forced her to live on the street or in a public shelter where she is deprived of basic privacy. IS THIS FREEDOM, YOU MORONS?? By trying to endow us with equal rights you have stripped us of the higher position Islam gave us. In effect, you degraded us. We don’t want equal rights when Islam gives us more rights as women!

Carrying coal to Newcastle – that’s what this is!

UK Teen Protests Christian Symbol Ban

Shek dis auwt!

“A new initiative has hit East London, and it’s called Ninjabi. Let’s just say that if you think of messin’ with these Muslim women, you’ll be in for some serious bruisin’! Ninjabi is an introductory six-week self-defense course created especially for Muslim women and is based in the heart of a large East End Muslim community in Manor Park, London.” More>>

Hmmm…I’m gonna take up self-defence lessons Insha Allah…. In the mean time maybe I’ll try walking around the neighbourhood like this.

Now why are you guffawing huh??

I feel terrible when I miss Fajr (the morning prayer) The whole day tends to turn out badly. There’s a weight on me, I feel extremely grumpy and don’t have much enthusiasm for anything. I’m not imagining this – it’s true! Sometimes I forget the fact that I missed fajr and at the end of the day I think to myself, now what did I do to deserve such a bad day? Then it hits me.

Allah is my Creator. He is in no need of my prayers. Rather, I’m the one in need of them. He has done so much for me, so much that I haven’t even come to realise. Surely it is impossible to count the blessings He has showered on me. Yet, I am such an ungrateful servant. After all that He has done for me, how can I not even wake up to pray two rakahs (units of prayer) to Him??

This reminds me of a beautiful nasheed (Islamic song) by Hamza Robertson. The lyrics are simple and beautiful.

There is a reason why to Allah we pray
In the morning on every day
It’s a meeting and we must not be late
If we want to have peace we must obey and pray

CHORUS:
There is no better feeling
Than when we pray on time
And we know the rest of our days
Will work out just fine
So we must work hard and wake up before sunrise
So we can leave our homes with the blessings of Allah

Idha hafadhta ‘alal salah
Hayatuka tumla’ baraka
Idha hafadhta ‘alal salah
Tanal ridhaa’ Allah
If you maintained your prayers
Your life will be filled with blessings
If you prayed on time
Allah will be pleased with you

No excuses of why you cannot pray
Coz we need him on everyday
So don’t tell me just why you turned up late
If we want to have peace we must obey and pray

CHORUS

Idha hafadhta ‘alal salah
Hayatuka tumla’ baraka
Idha hafadhta ‘alal salah
Tanal ridhaa’ Allah
If you maintained your prayers
Your life will be filled with blessings
If you prayed on time
Allah will be pleased with you

Listen brother and sister it’s all been said before
You’re too tired now so you sleep some more
But when you wake up there’s an emptiness inside
If we want to have peace we must swallow our pride

Bridge:
I know my friend it’s not easy
But we must try believe me
And we will feel a difference
In our lives and Allah will give us strength

CHORUS

You can listen to the song here.

I have to be more mindful of my prayers Insha Allah.

I’ll sign off for today leaving you with this article I came across. Praying Fajr

I’m doing something I never thought I would do – blogging! Why not? Because I like to keep my life private, thank you very much. So what brought me here? Well, let me just call it a need to be heard. It’s time I publicised my thoughts and got some feedback on them. I don’t want to waste my time thinking thoughts that aren’t worth thinking about. Yes, there’s a lot of junk to be cleared and I intend to pass it on to anyone who will listen. So don’t expect my posts to make any sense. They’ll include a myriad of topics in no particular order and in different langauges too perhaps. My own space on the Web…awesome!