Reflections Of A Muslimah

On Monday I went to Jumeirah Beach Park with my friends. On Monday, the Jumeirah beach is exclusively for Women and so Women who wear Hijab can enjoy the beach. The Park is very strict about who enters and who doesn't, only letting Women in.

Although it was a fun day, on the way back what I saw had me panicking to put my Niqaab on. Parked inside the parking lot in the Park were cars which had boys standing outside them. Or what I thought were boys. I was first surprised, because Men were not allowed inside the Park at all and then to my horror I realised these were girls pretending to be boys.

This was not just one or two, these were whole groups of girls together which had 'guys' in them too. I remembered how my friend had called me when she was visiting this same beach a month back, telling me about how she had seen these girls pretending to be boys. I could hear the shock in her voice and only when I saw what she had seen did I realise why she was so shocked.

These girls who were pretending to be boys had made themselves to be so much like a boy that it was hard to differentiate between a real boy and them. The only way I realised they were in actuality girls was because they were in a all Womens beach. They had their hair absolutely cut short, jelled, they wore shorts and full boy clothes. They spoke and met others of their groups, girls and 'guys' just how guys might meet them. They walked and hung around just like boys would and they even drove cars the same way.

And to top it all, these were Arab Muslim youth, with the girls who were not pretending to be Men actually wearing Abayas.

All I could think was that if the Ahzaab of Allah does not come on us, then what will? My friend repeatedly kept on saying Allah yahdeekum - and I really hope Allah gives them hidaya.

But there were some questions that kept on running around my head after what I saw. What led these teenagers to do something like this? And I'm sure not all of them are young, especially if they were driving Cars, some of them could possibly be in their early twenties. Where are their Parents? You cannot be like that without your Parents finding out, especially with the hair-cuts. Why isn't anyone trying to speak to them about their condition?

Surely something in such large groups cannot pass the attention of the community at large? These are our children of tomorrow.

There is talk about recession everywhere. Of people leaving their cars on the airport and running away because they don't have money to pay their loans. And people cutting down on their extravagance and their spending.

However, how does or did the recession affect Women?

I wanted to book myself for an appointment at the Salon the other day so I asked my Sister to call and do it for herself and me. The Woman told us she was booked for three days continuous.

Laughingly she said, 'Recession? What recession? People should come and look at my parlour! When it comes to Women and their beauty, there is never any recession!

Which, in my opinion, I think is true to an extent.

Speaking of the recession though, I've realised that although it might have affected some people drastically, others are just complaining because they have to cut down on their extra extravagance and luxury. All I have to say to that is, be happy you have food to eat!

So I finally changed my layout. I'd been considering doing it for such a long time - a complete re-vamp. But the only thing that kept me from doing it is because I spent quite a few hours re-adjusting my previous template and I would loose all my widgets [Mainly my link-list] if I made a change to another template.

I like blogger, but the only thing I don't like is the loss of widgets. It's hard to put in links in one by one. Anyway, I still went through with the change and lets just say I was sick and tired of finding a template I was satisfied with. I was up till 3 AM yesterday trying to find a good one which I liked and I still couldn't find one. Especially with the 100's of excellent blogger templates out there. Anyway, I finally found this on: 'http://www.btemplates.com'.

I also don't like the commenting system of blogger. Its... old and very ugly.

I'd been also considering making another more private day-to-day life blog, why? Because, [I've mentioned this before], I don't feel 'comfortable' blogging here anymore. Simply because the people who read this blog are usually people I know in real-life. Sucks, isn't it? It's not like I have anything to hide... but the comfort level isn't there anymore. But I decided against it because it's a hassle keeping running numerous blogs.

It's a start of a New Year - both Islamic and Gregorian. Once upon a time, 2009 seemed so far away, but here we are, living in it. I usually don't celebrate New Years and I think the people who do, do it because they just need an excuse to drink alcohol and party. As for resolutions... I don't have anything specifically planned for this Year, but just general resolutions that I seem to have had for myself for a while.

I hope to become a better person, religiously, spiritually, mentally and physically. And I guess, this is a never ending process which can't be contained in one year. :)

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

This has been all over the news. It is so sad and pathetic at the same time and highly angering. Why do they think they can attack and kill and raid any Country they want? Why are we not doing more then protesting this?

And like always, the victims are innocent civilians, including Women and Children.

You can read more about it here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7698820.stm

Here are a few pictures from Yahoo:

An image grab taken from official Syrian television showing victims of what the Syrian media reported was a US attack on a building in the village of Al-Sukkiraya, near the Syria-Iraq border. Iraq has said the deadly raid was targeting an area used by insurgents plotting attacks on its soil, as Damascus protested about what it branded a cold-blooded war crime by US forces.

(AFP)

Syrian villagers mourn for the victims during a mass funeral in the village of Sukaria, in the Bou Kamal area near the Iraqi border October 27, 2008. A deadly raid on the Syrian side of Iraq's border, blamed by Syria on the United States, targeted an area used by insurgents for attacks on Iraq, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Monday.

REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA)

A Syrian man mourns near the body of a relative who died a day before when U.S. military helicopters launched an attack on Syrian territory, before a funeral procession in the Sukkariyeh Farm near the town of Abu Kamal in an area of farms and brick factories about five miles (eight kilometers) inside the Syrian border, on Monday, Oct. 27, 2008. Blood stained the dusty earth Monday as anguished villagers on the outskirts of farming town near Iraq buried loved ones they say were killed by an American helicopter raid inside Syria.

(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Syrians carry coffins of their realtives who were killed yesterday in a US military raid on the village of Sukkiraya, on the Syria-Iraq border. The United States mounted a rare cross-border raid into Syria to kill the head of a smuggling network feeding arms and foreign fighters to Iraq, a US official said Monday, signaling a more aggressive approach to insurgent sanctuaries.

(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)

A Syrian man sits next to blood staining the floor in the village of Sukkiraya, on the Syria-Iraq border, the scene of what the Syrian media reported as a deadly US military strike. US forces in Iraq staged a "successful" raid into Syria against foreign fighters, an American official said Monday, as a furious Damascus accused Washington of "terrorist aggression.

"(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)

In an image made from APTN Television an amateur video shows a pointing to a covered body in Syria after a raid Sunday Oct. 26, 2008, in Sukkariyeh, Syria.

Syrian protesters gather at Youssef al-Azmi square during a demonstration against the U.S. raid on a village near the Syrian-Iraqi border last Monday, in Damascus, Syria, Thursday Oct. 30, 2008. Hundreds of Syrian riot police ringed the shuttered and closed U.S. Embassy in Damascus on Thursday, as tens of thousands of Syrians converged on a central square for a government-orchestrated protest to denounce a deadly U.S. raid near the Iraqi border.

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

As the month of Ramadan comes by, Muslims all around the World go into a frenzy. Families stock up a few days or weeks before the first fast comes around. The supermarkets are full, with Women haggling over spices and other foodstuff that they'll make during Ramadan for Iftaar. This year, a couple of days before Ramadan started I was passing by a very crowded supermarket when I noticed a sign outside that said, only two pieces of rice and wheat were being allowed for an individual each because of the fear of running out of stock.

And no, they weren't giving it out for free, these things were being sold.

In all this hubbub and madness that takes place, the true essence of Ramadan in lost. People have started thinking of Ramadan as a festival of feasting, so much so, that when the fast is broken, because of the amount of food that is eaten, the physical healthy benefits of fasting is lost. When you go to the marketplaces during Ramadan, there are signs everywhere of 'Ramadan discounts' or 'Ramadan Festivals'. Ramadan has turned into a marketing month, where people use it to sell of their goods and try and earn as much as money as they can whilst also attracting Muslims who should actually be worshiping Allah. Not doing shopping.

But, in truth, Ramadan is a month of Ibaadah, [worship] of Allah subhanna wa ta'ala. It is a month of Qurán, as the Qurán was revealed during this month. It is a month of being extra generous, practicing patience and reviving your spiritual self.

It is NOT a month of Iftar parties, where the Women of the house-hold cook from morning till Iftaar, wasting away their days during Ramadan when they should be engaging in worship. In fact some people even miss their prayers or don't fast at all because they need to prepare for the iftar party! Iftar parties aren't wrong, but when they're done in excess and the remembrance of Allah subhanna wa ta'ala is not done in them, there is where they go wrong. Late-night volleyball and Cricket matches that go up till Suhoor or T.V Programs that people watch from after Iftar till suhoor. We have truly lost the meaning of Ramadan.

The month of Ramadan is a blessed month, a month where the mercy of Allah subhanna wa ta'ala descends on us, a month where the reward is tripled and where people are taken out from the hellfire.

Allah subhanna wa ta'ala says in the Qurán:

"Ramadhan is the (month) in which the Qur'an was sent down, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (Between right and wrong). So every one of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting…" Qur'an (2:185)

The Sahaba [Companions of the Prophet SAWS] radi allahu anhum would stand in long prayers during the month of Ramadan, reading the Qurán and asking for the forgiveness of Allah subhanna wa ta'ala. They would spend their times doing nothing but Ibaadah, not wasting a minute. And why not? There are Angels who from the beginning of time have been doing prostrations to Allah subhanna wa ta'ala, and on the day of judgement will still say, 'Our Lord, we have not thanked you enough!'

And look at us! We do our fardh [compulsary] prayers and we think it is enough.

Allah subhanna wa ta'ala says in the Qurán about fasting:

"Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain taqwaa." [2:183]

There are various definitions of taqwa, the most common one being: To fear and love Allah and to be God-Conscious. And know, that the reward for Taqwa is Paradise as is mentioned again and again in the Qur'an.

Allah says [in meaning] : "This is the Book; in it is guidance sure without doubt to the Muttaqeen [people of Taqwa]. Who believe in the Unseen are steadfast in prayer and spend out of what We have provided for them. And who believe in the Revelation sent to thee and sent before thy time and (in their hearts) have the assurance of the Hereafter. They are on (true) guidance from their Lord and it is these who are the successful. (al-Baqarah 1:1-5)

A person might wonder, how does one attain taqwa just by refraining from food and drink? The answer to which is, fasting in the month of Ramadan is just not about refraining from food and drink. It is refraining from everything that is haraam and that which is specified specifically for this month.

The Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alayhi wasallam has said: "Perhaps a person fasting will receive nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst." [Ibn Maajah, Ad-Daarimee, Ahmad, al-Baihaqee, Saheeh]

When a person intends to fast, he should fast from backbiting, watching haraam, listening to that which is haraam and should refrain from being hurtful or evil to others. For as the hadith says, maybe a person might receive nothing, no reward, no benefit from his fasting, except hunger and thirst. This should exist all throughout Ramadan, and not stop when the Iftar breaks.

Sadly, we see this happening around us all the time. Muslim Women still dressed in inappropriate clothing during Ramadan, and they're 'fasting'. People backbiting others, and still 'fasting'. Muslims not offering their five daily prayers, and are 'fasting'. SubhanAllah! What benefit is your fast?

The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam has said Ameen to those who do not attain forgiveness in the month of Ramadan and he has warned them of hell-fire.

Abu Hurairah also narrated that the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said, "Jibraa'eel, `alaihi assalam, came to me and said, 'Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and does not have [his sins] forgiven and so enters Fire, then may Allah distance him, say aameen". So I said "aameen". [Ibn Khuzaimah, Ahmad and al-Baihaqui : Sahih]

Why would anyone be so stupid and so ignorant, when the month of Ramadan comes by, a month where the mercy is bountiful, where-in doing any good deed is rewarded hundred to seven hundred times more then normal, where-in fasting the right way attains him forgiveness and a ticket to Paradise, not take advantage of it?

The rewards and virtues of Fasting are numerous. In fact, Allah azza wa jal has said that the reward for fasting is insurmountable, something that we cannot imagine because it is a deed done solely for him.

"Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving then times its like, up to seven hundred times. Allah the Most High said, 'Except for fasting, for it is for Me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desires and his food for Me.' for the fasting person there are two times of joy; a time when he breaks his fast and a time of joy when he meets his Lord, and the smell coming from the mouth of the fasting person is better with Allah than the smell of musk." [al-Bukhaaree]

Fasting expiates ones sins and protects the person from hell-fire. Fasting will intercede for you on the day of judgment, a day where you will counting your good deeds, the day that is longer then 50,000 years, the day when only a few will be provided shade and the other will be drowning in their own sweat.

On the Day of Judgement, "Fasting will say: O My Lord I prevented him from food an desires so accept my intercession for him." [Ahmad, al-Haakim and Abu Nu'aim, Hasan]

We pray to Allah Ta`ala to make this Ramadan a means for us to access Paradise, to forgive us ours sins and to accepts our Prayers, our Qiyaam and our fasts. Ameen.

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

This is the latest talk of the town in Dubai. It's utterly disgusting, and I really really hope she gets what she deserves.

It reminds of the various ahadith which mention that people will start committing illegal sexual intercourse on the streets and immoral activities will be spread. And then the hour will come. Subhan'Allah, this is happening in a Muslim Country. Wa - iyadhbillah.

A British businesswoman is facing six years in a foreign jail after she was allegedly caught having drunken sex on a beach in Dubai.

Michelle Palmer, manager of a publishing firm, was arrested after a police officer reportedly found her and a British holidaymaker in a compromising position on Jumeirah Beach in the Arab state.

The 30-year-old is thought to have been charged with having sex outside marriage - considered an offence in Dubai - as well as indecent behaviour in public, being drunk in public, and assaulting a police officer.

Miss Palmer told the Sun that she fears she will be 'made an example of' under the strict laws of a country where even mild public displays of affection are frowned upon.

She faces and her fellow accused face a sentence of between three months and six years in jail in the state, one of seven that makes up the United Arab Emirates.

She told the newspaper: "Because this is known everywhere they're going to make an example of us and we're going to get a higher sentence.

"We are in so much trouble and my family and everybody are affected. Until someone is in this situation they could never know what it's like. It's bad - it's so, so bad.

"They are being pushed into a corner to make an example of us. I'm panicking - my mum is on anti-depressants. I can't say anything else. I've got to go."

Miss Palmer, is said to been drinking champagne during a brunch with colleagues last Friday before agreeing to go for a walk on the beach with a friend of a colleague.

When the pair were allegedly found having sex by a policeman, he is said to have let them off with a caution. However, later, after the couple were discovered in the same position, they were arrested, and Miss Palmer is said to have become aggressive.

The exclusive residential area, which boasts a number of luxury hotels, is popular with Western expatriates. Although alcohol is available to non-Muslims in hotel bars, it is an offence to drink or be drunk in public.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Two British nationals were arrested in Dubai. The case is currently under investigation.'

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

We had a meeting the other day where all the Sisters gathered at Kalemah [Islamic Center] to discuss the upcoming Islamic Summer camp. I've been going to this center a lot and it's become like second home, with the Qurán, Tajweed and Tafseer classes. The feeling of being there is ultimately different and very beautiful, simply, I think, it is because it is a place where we all gather for the sake of Allah subhanna wa ta'ala. And I've become very close to some of the Sisters there.

After lunch at Kalemah a friend and I decided to go to City Center for coffee and check out the sales. The Dubai Summer sales are on everything gets discounted. Although I live near City Center [A Mall], I don't go there much and sometimes months pass by and I don't go. The reason[s] for this is one, it is always too crowded and secondly, it is a place of fitna. The clothes some Women wear these days never fail to amaze me. [And I'm sure the Men are amazed ten times more].

So we finally went there, and after a few minutes, I started feeling this feeling of being very disheartened. I asked my friend if she felt the same way, and she said she did. A feeling that maybe it was the wrong decision, coming here. We felt that we were slightly sticking out, especially with our Niqaabs. Slightly off-topic, is it just me or are there less Women adopting Niqaab these days? Or maybe they've stopped frequenting City Center too... heh.

How some people are dressed, is extremely shocking. I know Dubai has become pretty westernised and liberal compared to a couple of years ago, but it never fails to shock me when I see someone walking around half-naked. Or even if they're wearing clothes, they are so fitted that it leaves nothing to the imagination. This is, after all, still a Muslim City.

I then remembered something a friend of mine had said a few days ago to me. That I was basically, 'living in my own World'. The statement was regarding me not going out and about beyond a few malls [Mainly Dubai Festival City - calm and less crowded] and other places that I frequent and not being aware of all that was happening around me. And to an extent, I realised it was true. I guess the reason I was shocked was because I'd built up a routine without realising it, of me either staying at home, mixing with only the religious crowd, or going for my Islamic classes and attending lectures. And the max I stay out is 10 [Even that is slightly stretching it]. Basically, I've been living in my own cocoon.

When people sometimes talk about the ills of Dubai, they still manage to surprise me. [And that surpises them because they expect me to know it all]. I'm not surpsied because I'm denying it, but because it is always shocking. I know that clubbing, prostitution and the drinking of alcohol happens quite frequently here but I guess when you're not exposed to it so much and finally see it happening, it is intensely appalling.

No wonder so many Shyookh and people of knowledge have reported to have seen dreams of the torment of Allah subhanna wa ta'ala hitting Dubai.

So maybe I *am* living in my own World and need to get out more, but I think considering the fitna that surrounds us these days, I'd rather not. Heh.

And Allah subhanna wa ta'ala knows best.

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,

We feel anger when the Kuffar abuse our Brothers' and Sisters'. And there are numerous cases of this happening all around the World, however it is extremely disheartening when our own so-called 'Muslims' happen to do the same.

Pictures were released from the outside of jails of Morroco, where Wives, Sisters, Aunts were protesting against the abuse of the prisoners who were their Brothers, Husbands, Fathers. The story is that these prisoners were imprisoned for being practicing Muslims, which translates into being 'Extremist' for those who hate Islam.






SubhanAllah. These Men do not fear Allah.

Allah subanna wa ta'ala says in the Qurán:

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,


There was a recent article in New York Times in a 'series of articles examining the lives of youth across the Muslim world at a time of religious revival' called 'Love on Girls' Side of the Saudi Divide'.

The article gives an inside into the lives of Saudi Women and girls, their way of life, the gender segregation, the face-veil and the hopes and dreams of these girls.

Here is an excerpt:

The separation between the sexes in Saudi Arabia is so extreme that it is difficult to overstate. Saudi women may not drive, and they must wear black abayas and head coverings in public at all times. They are spirited around the city in cars with tinted windows, attend girls-only schools and university departments, and eat in special “family” sections of cafes and restaurants, which are carefully partitioned from the sections used by single male diners.

Special women-only gyms, women-only boutiques and travel agencies, even a women-only shopping mall, have been established in Riyadh in recent years to serve women who did not previously have access to such places unless they were chaperoned by a male relative.

Playful as they are, girls like Ms. Othman and her friends are well aware of the limits that their conservative society places on their behavior. And, for the most part, they say that they do not seriously question those limits.

Most of the girls say their faith, in the strict interpretation of Islam espoused by the Wahhabi religious establishment here, runs very deep. They argue a bit among themselves about the details — whether it is acceptable to have men on your Facebook friend list, or whether a male first cousin should ever be able to see you without your face covered — and they peppered this reporter with questions about what the young Saudi men she had met were thinking about and talking about.

But they seem to regard the idea of having a conversation with a man before their showfas and subsequent engagements with very real horror. When they do talk about girls who chat with men online or who somehow find their own fiancés, these stories have something of the quality of urban legends about them: fuzzy in their particulars, told about friends of friends, or “someone in my sister’s class.”

Sad how backwards and sad the society is over there

— David g, Houston

It's humanizing and relieving to understand that, despite the severity of their oppression, these women still have joy and desires. But I guess in the NY Times, like in Saudi Arabia, boys stories come first.

— EKO, DC I have a dream that someday we will have a Christian church built in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where men AND women are sitting side by side as equals and no one is wearing a veil of oppression.

— chris, new york

With restrictive lives like this, where nothing is left to individual initiative, it is no surprise that Saudis, and Arab Moslems in general, have contributed so little to the intellectual accomplishments of the world.

— Jim S., Cleveland

These young women are such perfect examples of the Stockholm Syndrome--the captives identifying with the captors. This is one of the saddest articles I have read in a while.

— brendan, nyc

Assalāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi Wabarakath,


In the recent tour of President George W. Bush to the Middle East, United Arab Emirates was too a stop. And ultimately, a public holiday was called on January 14th, more for security reasons then celebratory. [Although I wasn't objecting to the holiday, I got to sleep late] A holiday which abruptly put a stop to the running of the whole Country. The holiday itself was called in a short period of time and the diversion of roads without notice caused massive traffic jams.

Secondly, in some parts of Dubai, people were literally under house arrest and the roads were closed down. The President was given a marvelous entry and provided with high security.

I find it ironic that when our Muslim Brothers and Sisters are suffering and dying, Mulim/Arab lands are welcoming the one who has the blood of millions of innocent people on his hands. The blood of our brethren in Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq.

He is open about supporting the terrorist state of Israel but he has the audacity to go out and speak against Iran. In fact, all his rants revolved around Iran and the 'threat' it poses.

What is more sad is we have Muslims who greet him with welcome and are in awe of him. They forget that just across the border, in this same region in fact, people are loosing their lives and loved ones. That their homes have been destroyed because of him. They are so amazed that he is the 'President of the United States' they cannot think beyond that.

This e-mail was forwarded to me by a friend a few days later after the President left. And it's a bit sad and funny at the same time. It was titled, 'Khooosh 7ejaab'. And you'll see why.



Sad really, when we have Muslim Sisters willing to shake hands, kiss and take pictures first of all, with a Non-Mehram man and secondly, of all people, George W. Bush. I think these pictures wouldn't have made much of a difference if she wasn't wearing Hijaab, but ultimately she is representing Islam and Muslims to a certain extent when she puts it on, especially to the media and it is our duty as Muslims to represent Islam properly when we go out.

And I doubt that if any of the Presidents or Shaykhs of Muslim/Arab Countries went and visited him, he'd go to such lengths to provide security, give people a public holiday and stop businesses and close down malls.

Wa Allahu a3lam, I don't know what is so great about the man that everyone in the pictures seemed so flustered and happy about. I wouldn't care less if he went and rot in a bin.

Ma'asalama