Guest post by Farrah K Raja
Recently I have been frequently coming across the word REVOLUTION over and over again. Thinking hard at what sort of revolution people might be talking about, particularly in Pakistan. There are officially two sorts of enthusiasts camped on either side of the divide, one being the Islamists and the other secularists. What might be the difference between the two, truly I see none. A prime recent example of a wanna-be revolution was the lawyers movement, it started off with the country rallying to an anti-Musharraf rhetoric but ended up at achieving nothing. This sadly how all big hopeful revolutions start, people ask for a change but do not know ‘what sort of change’ or how they expect ‘to achieve this change?’
I bring into the midst of this discussion the millions of women belonging to the Islamic world who are so different, so strong and so determined yet even unbeknowist to them, they truly represent another set of revolutionaries in their own respect. We, the women, are constantly in the struggle to keep our homes intact, keeping our husbands happy, while at the same time maintaining a commitment to our jobs, in all this midst we are committed at bringing up our children in line with the core Islamic values which we hold so dear to our hearts. Its a mystical juggling machine which our gender group have so expertly managed over many hundred years and will continue to do so in the future without fail
This raw power of women, was a fact that dawned even upon me when I toured an art exhibition about women in London, titled “Edge of Arabia”, it was there did I fully comprehend the sacrifices of women and their relentless commitment to society as a whole
It was an exhibition about women – the originality, the simplicity, roots, culture, conflict, monarchy were all so eloquently portrayed by the artists on display. The representative statues depictied women in practically all scenarios found across the world, from the mere fact that women are not allowed to drive, to the strong willed ladies hidden behind the veil. the artists crafted the representations in vibrant bold, rich colors, presenting the women from the romantic beauty of an ‘Alif Laila‘ fantasy, even to mere science of being represented by the DNA found in her hair, even an X-ray conveyed the strength of women in the term womanhood the vibrancy extended even into the power of the pen portrayed by the simple geometric patterns found in calligraphy. Thought provoking, yet completely different, no frenzy, no chaos, nor any form of provocation but a beautiful expression of self contentment and the will to break away from self to a gentle embrace by Western cultures.
I take you into the downtrodden path of Muslim women around the world. In Turkey, there has been a different sort of revolution brewing underneath the Hijab vs the Non Hijab divide. Highly westernized society challenge the traditional Islamic values, this in no way has undermined the modern Turkish Muslim women who still chooses to don a Hijab, underneath the veil she is a highly intellectual, well educated lady who feels liberated simply being herself, content with a westernized women in her mind but choosing to follow religion as a moral code of decency
In Iran, the phenomenon is the opposite, it is here that the women of Iran have the temptation to break free from the shackles of the Hijab wearing tradition, trying to adopt to a way of modern life, quite similar to our own Pakistani women, shopping malls to cosmetic surgery, fluent English combined with a strong determination to succeed against all odds. She competes in journalism, she excels in art and even in business, but at the same time she remains a devoted mother, a loving wife, upholding Islamic traditions she, though she may or may not choose to don the Abaya, maybe a westernized Islamic women at heart
This commonality between Iran and Pakistan probably takes root because both the countries have at some time been ruled by two very Western leaders, Bhutto in Pakistan and the Shah of Iran in Iran. The similarity should be well understood and even be the guiding light for the Muslim world for inspiration. We should leave the shackles of mimicking the Indian women who still remains far behind in her struggle against oppression merely due to the religious differences, separating their causes to a remarkable degree
Pakistani women are fundamentally different from the Indian women in one too many ways. The main issue of Hijab has never been an issue of contention for the Indian mother. Pakistani women have come a long way forward, she has stopped wearing a Saaree and has instead donned a very trendy and a modern shalwar kameez on occasions she even chooses to replace the traditional shalwar with jeans which has slowly become an acceptable norm within the confines of the Pakistani society, jeans generally cover the entire body and I personally think jeans is far better option than an uncomfortable georgette Shalwar.
Pakistani women easily dispense of Hijab as well, it has been an observable fact that women in Pakistan had stopped wearing a burqa around seventies and instead came out in big chadders. Chadders will most likely stay because they serve the purpose well in covering up the figure while at the same time keeping their respective brothers and fathers happy. The Pakistani women is acutely aware of her surroundings, so when a women is driving a car or visiting a shopping mall she merely keeps the dupatta dangling around her neck and feels secure, while at home it is often laying on some chair or sofa, in quick access for in case that door bell were to ring, quickly to grab the duppata and don it as a symbol of decency.
It is also in Pakistan that I see a mixture of a very posh looking begum knowing extremely well on how to throw away her bag, tie up her hair, take off her rings and do the chapatis while at the same time one can even come across a chadder clad Hijab wearing women after a Quran Khawani lights up a cigarette with that same comfort as if it were the daily norm. Cigarette is harmful and cannot be deemed healthy by any standard and is also not a sign of freedom nor any revolution but if one were to engage with these women you would be surprised to learn that smoking a cigarette in public is definitely some semblance of freedom. Might I suggest men to give it up as well?
In the same context Iranian women have had the urge to contest the bureacracy for the right to drive a motorbike, Oh God! little do they know its nasty ride, its adverse effects for the skin, the blazing sunshine and even the dust it is so impractical but despite the harsh conditions it is a symbolic sense of freedom which they strive to achieve in their own daily lives, likewise the Saudi women have the temptation to drive the car though it may seem whimsical but it remains a fundamental womens issue nonetheless which does apparently limit their mobility
Once I witnessed Asma Jahangir protesting during Zia’s regime on the Lahore Mall, she was being severely beaten by the police. On our return home my father asked me “who was she?” I responded “a lawyer”, he then asked “What does she want as I saw her being beaten by the police on the mall and what was she protesting for?” my simple response “I guess women rights”. It was there my father was innocently surprised, ”Darling I had only one aim in my life that my daughters to be educated, now what sort of education is this where a women are being beaten and you do not know, Why?”
That is so true of Pakistani women. We do not know exactly what Asma Jahangir stands for, what does she mean by human rights? The ironical tragedy is that Musharraf very candidly gave more rights to women but do we even choose to realize it? I dare to think not. Musharraf did set a good precedence he was not ashamed of his working mother, he was not ashamed of his wife and openly admits to have listened to her counsel and even did dearly loves his daughter. So unlike the Zardaris, Bajranis and Nawaz Sharifs of the present Pakistan. Why do the male chauvinistic leaders choose not to recognize the services of women in their lives
Pakistani women are so strong, I am so very glad I am one of them, our revolutionary change may be slow but it is steady and sure. We the Pakistani women are also not ready to take this revolutionary business to any cutting edge rivalry to challenge our fathers, brothers or even our husbands, we merely take it one step at a time. Though at times we do chisel at the tender love with our male companions for some mere whimsicle demand but choose to limit them within the confines of decency and respect.
This beautiful relationship is the love, the fathers and the brothers go to help us out for the extra mile merely to see their girl happy, safe and secure. This in my opinion is priceless, personally I would tell all Pakistani women to not barter it for anything. Nonetheless we are not afraid to stand on our own. This is the revolution and the challenges faced by the women of the Islamic Republics, it is when women will protest for their rights, they will march for themselves, be it jobs, be it divorce laws, be it against Bajranis or Zardaris, the men of Pakistan will just standby watching us in a state of shock to have taken to the streets, even the governments would not know how to stop this sea of women, to them its not a mob, not even the least bit chaotic, just girls standing up for what they believe in.
It is here that I see the power, in 1990 when Nawaz Sharif was young elected as the Chief Minister of Punjab the girls of Government Degree College Gulberg Lahore marched against Maimoonah Ansari the Principal, no lathee charge, no riots, no fathers, no brothers but yet it was successful.
The second time we witnessed a womens revolution was when four girls of FCC Lahore stood up against the Principal who was backed by Jamiat in 1993 including the male class fellows, they all were taken by surprise by this horde of women, in surprise the boys ran fast, deemed us dangerous mocking us from the far sides of the lush green gardens and all we asked the Jamiats was, ”How come you being our representative, choose to sit in the office while the Principal stops us from walking into the gardens? He in had to apologize and ironically the apology did come with a tea but sadly in a very bureaucratic and indirect manner. We merely refused to be confined to our lecture halls, we refused to accept that the canteen and the lush green college gardens were off-limits to women and a luxury reserved for the male chauvinistic members of our college . After all this college is as much our as it is theirs
This slow steady womens revolution is our own personal fight its not for the sensationalization for any big-name news organization nor are we in this for any financial gains, its our struggle and then we live our lives with dignity and more importantly as equal human beings..
The revolutions from the men will simply not be realized because their revolutions remain a mere ideology and not a daily struggle for survival. Women on the other hand live the life of oppression, brutality, humilaition, tourture and even rape these survival instinct will itself culminate into a world changing womens revolution.
Well! Women you have the power, no one is going to come and spell it out for you. Use it to better your own life. I can only hope that men in Islamic world are ready to accept this new revolutionary women, an individual who might have not changed a lot in appearance but has surely revolutionized her mind
Islamic world would find it impossible to stop this change, this revolution will be bloodless, world has yet to see the power of Muslim women of Islamic world.
Comments
40 responses to “Revolution in the Islamic World by Women”
Hats off to Islamic women, who are intelligent, stand by their conviction and prove they are no less in their profession, compared to men, but still holding on to their religion and tradition. It is tight rope walk. western women do not have to slog for their rights, as their culture allows them to do anything. But balancing act for Islamic women is commendable.
Nice try feminist Freak.
@minhaj!
don't behave like kicking ass
Minhaaj
What is your defination of feminist?
farrah, I would have loved to have more time to write some thing thorough…most of what you have written is very easy to agree with but there is a very important element that always seems to be missing from the discourse and that is the role women play in the traditional households. Older women who themselves at some point earlier in their lives might have been victims often become party to the same tactics that were used against them and do not protect their daughters and sisters. Sure men need to be educated, some are beyond that but proper enforcement of law could gradually improve the way they behave but women also need education not only about their rights when they are victims but also what they should do when some one in their environment is being victimized. Because I do believe older women and matriarchs wield great influence and they would be natural allies in the empowerment of women.
but ,it should be on a wider level ,women should be empowered but not a hand full of women like we are doing here now a days.
i fail to see the point of this article???
other than self praise.. lol
Karim
I agree with you there are so many aspects to Women Struggle.
This essay is about the sudden realisation that struggle of Pakistani women is not alone.
This struggle is actually taking place gradually everywhere in Islamic Countries.It means it is the overall change.
The most important aspect of it is that it is not a concious effort of women that they are bringing in the change ,against Islam or Social system.
They want the social injustice to end.
This effort is on individual level.Like one woman asking to wear Hijab another one wants to dispense it off.
One woman struggling to get permission to work whereas another one asking for to be a house wife.
Through all these differences what is emerging is woman of Islamic world .
It does not matter if we are in Hijab or not ,we have openion.
To me this is a great association,Women Liberation did not happen until it started everywhere in Europe ,one after another.
In Asia we could never work on European sort of Liberation or Feminism,it is not acceptable to us.
It is so very important to know for Muslim Women that this change is taking place in whole of Islamic World,we are not challenging the set norms fo society ,but we are realising ourselves.
This Self Realisation is the beggining of Revolution.
That is all this essay is about.
Anyway Feminist Women doesnot happen to be in Islamic World.
Muslim women wants to speak and resist agaisnt Man's World or cruelty in it , but does not want to exclude him out of it.
Muslim women has not yet forgotten to sacrifice and she feels hugely incomplete without children and without husband.
Feminism would not happen until more 100 years maybe.
I'm male, but I find serious problem accepting that any self-respecting woman would 'need' a husband and children to feel 'complete'. The implication, it seems, is that a woman cannot remain single and pursue goals independent of those prescribed to her by her culture and religion, and this involves ALL religions, especially Islam and Hinduism. I cannot accept that; a woman is free to do what she wants, and IS ABSOLUTELY EQUAL to a man.
Only when this understanding sinks into the thick minds of the patriarchs in South Asia will nonsense explanations for rape and sexual harassment, like "She was wearing skimpy clothes so she asked for it", will become a thing of the past. There are literally some who want rapists and sexual offenders let off because the victim was not 'appropriately dressed'. Which is such rubbish! Under this logic, if the men that harass women cannot control their base urges, then they are not different from animals and should be in cages or on leashes anyway. Better yet, castrate them the way it is done with stray dogs.
I'm not a feminist, but anything less than EQUAL rights is unacceptable.
laugh out loud..
"and IS ABSOLUTELY EQUAL to a man"
scientist and psychologist do not agree with that especially "ABSOLUTE EQUAL" part at least no medical student can agree with that.who told you that…. :))
-make women wear skimpy clothes..
-what??? …
*most of pakistani women do not wear skimpy clothes.
-to hell with any women who do not wear a skimpy clothes.
those women who do not wear skimpy clothes are like a man's favourite pet.oppressed,depressed, helpless and representing the medieval time.
* and those women raped because of wearing skimpy clothes??
-no problem..we live in modern era of scientific advancement and secularism.in todays world rape is not more than a purse snatching.like some britisher said:
"if rape is inevitable,relax and enjoy"
she should enjoy the rape.
death to any "thick minded patriarchs of saouth asia" who blame the skimpy clothes for this incident.
*what about the rapists???
-spare them…
*why???
-because death sentence remind us the the cruel,barbaric and inhumane judicial system of medieval era.
**********(laugh out loud)**********
"O Prophet! tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
(sura al ahzab-59)
"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.
(surah al nur-30)
"And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons……
( surah al nur-31)
(refrences are produced for muslims only)
farrah…unfortunately the situation for women here is SO bad that the struggle needs to indeed start from a 'revolutionary' and even 'extremist' point for it to finally settle and rest on a natural and conciliatory point. Men and women are completion of each other, certain religions or their practices, perceptions and customs have failed to grasp that…
Fact of the matter is even the so called 'good man' have a very screwed up and distorted view of women rights.
Look, I would rather keep the issue, of course with 'affirmative actions' to start rehabilitation and improvement, on a simple term of 'human rights' that is and should be the most desired and acceptable position from where this struggle must be fought. And in this struggle women should start looking at themselves as 'complete equal and as important' human beings, nothing more nothing less. Not somebody's nanny or some holy Mother Theresa kinda character. They must 'want' like any body else, they must 'demand' like any body else. This idea that women is some sort of embodiment of care and sacrifice is in part responsible for this situation that perpetuates injustices and expects women to make do..
@ farrah k raja!
your opinion please.as a working woman you represent the muslim women of the 21st century.
(no grey comments.just black or white)
So physiological differences should mean they should not be absolutely equal under law? Let me be more specific: should a woman be entitled to less inheritance and should her testimony be worth less than that a man and should she need four witnesses to prove rape just because she is different physiologically?
Who said "make women skimpy clothes"? Can you read?
Who is saying spare the rapists? Like I said, castrate the bastards. Again, can you read?
Danial
I am a muslim woman ,Pakistani origin and I have divorced my husband.The emphasis is I HAVE DIVORCED my husband.
But I cannot live alone.I want to have children.
I left him for this very purpose.Probably he was having very easy life at the cost of me.
The important thing here is Danial you will not decide for me ,neither you will judge me.I do not give you this right.
In getting married I exercised my right to get married,I exercised the same in getting divorce.
Do I need husband ,Do I need children ,I will decide this.
Not the feminist or the fundamentalist.
To some I might sound liberal but I am conservative.
Are you understanding this woman.
You cannot understand the woman.The Afghan Woman or Pushtoon woman when she will pick up her clash n kov to kill those who came after her husband and children,she would not see if you are liberal or Secular nor that you are a Shariat follower.
Open your eyes,woman has stopped seeing the world from your eyes.
This is happening now ,as soon as the war stops ,see how these women will react.
Farrah, you have completely misunderstood my point. That is exactly what I am proposing, let the women have the choice to determine their lives. If you seek happiness in marriage and motherhood, great. But it should be on YOUR terms. I hope this is clear now.
We the women are fedup of your philosphies ,discussions and drawing room chats.
We are suffering.We want justice.The woman who got killed ,they have died but it has sent a very strong message to rest of the woman,this must not happen to me.This must not be the fate of my daughters.
Rate of divorce is high.You can kill woman but if they are not ready to live with you they would not.
Women who are happy in their homes goodluck to them.We all want to have homes and happiness.
Anything less than that is not acceptable.Better to be alone than a nuisance.
Danial
I have not misunderstood your point ,I may have sound angry but I am not ready to accept any man understands the core issues of sufference of woman.
There are so many levels of it,probably as many as their are women.
At our own places we are fighting for ourselves.Whatever it is that we feel right across Islamic world.
There is huge resiliance and resentment which is absent from Public eyes.
Our mothers have resigned this time not to fate ,We are accepting the challenges ,whatever is thrown in our way we will make our way through this.
A girl fights for her education,a girl fights for her job,a girl works hard to support herself,this is a new World.
We are following any book of rules ,we are trying to live against all odds.
We are fighting the men.You do not wish to send us to school or college we will study at home.You do not want me to work I will work from home.
No one can stop this.
It will become more stronger when the angry reaction of Afghanistan will come out.Those are the women who have lived under extreme opperession do not forget ,from a normal civil life Talibaan forced them.
How would they react ,when they will come out??
By God men,if I were you I would be thinking about ,what would be your fate in this World?
When woman will demand Bajrani to be hanged and Zawahre to be hanged and when his own women will stand against him?
Is it far?
Anyway Danial
Even the Western woman want to be mother ,their problems are totally different .They have plenty of boy friends but no one ready to be a father.
So now the women and men are thinking of being single parent through IMF.I have huge problem with this.
If you are a single parent that is OK.
But why bring a child in the world who does not know his father.
Morality is a issue for Muslim Woman and they do not seem to willing to challenge it.Why should we?
SO DEAR MEN:
Women has changed?
When will you change?
@farrah k raja!
great answer!
women should have a right for education.
should have a right to chose a life partner.
should have a due share in heirship.
but don't you think that islam has been given these rights 1400 yrs ago.(dark ages of religion) which are still been denied by our tribal and conservative society.
women should be treated as "equaly important" person rather than "ABSOLUTELY EQUAL"
what islam require is just a decency, a code of conduct which is in the best interest of women not the men.
I've already pointed out the flaws of imposing such a patriarchal code of conduct; one that would actually take away many of the choices that women want to have, as pointed out by Ms Raja.
And while the Islamic social setup was definitely an improvement on the tribal system prevalent in Arabia before it, there is still need for improvement. Again, refer to my earlier post about these issues. And Dr Jawwad, 'needing' a mehram male partner every time that a woman wants to leave her home is hardly liberating, is it? Women should be allowed to go where they want, when they want.
"entitled to less inheritence"
because in islam women are not responsible for bread and butter.it is a man who's obligation is to provide every thing including house.therefore it is reasonable to give her less from inheritence.
"testimoney"
The Qur'an makes the testimony of man equal to the testimony of two women. Moreover, the majority of jurists maintain that a woman's testimony does not count in major crimes and in matters which do not relate to the rule of retaliation in kind.
Yet the distinction is far from being due to any belief in a deficiency of the woman's humanity and integrity. It is rather due to her natural disposition and her special inclinations which may exclude her involvement in such matters while being focused on motherhood or the household. Hence, it is most likely to be a kind of characteristic inattention on her part when it comes to handling these matters. For this reason, Allah commands creditors if they want to verify the value of debt to seek the testimony of two men or one man and two women. The Qur'an puts it unambiguously: (so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her.) (Al-Baqarah 2:282)
The exclusion of woman's testimony, altogether, from cases of major crimes, and cases requiring retaliation in kind, is meant to protect women and steer her away from scenes of crime and aggressions against souls, honor and property. It is frequent, for instance, to see a woman closing her eyes, or running away in panic from a scene of bloodshed; therefore, it becomes difficult for that woman to give a reliable account of the crime.
Nevertheless, this has also meant for the jurists that a woman's testimony counts in cases of feminine affairs such as foster relationships, menstruation, delivery and such matters whose knowledge was confined to women in past ages and probably still is.
the condition of 4 witness is just for adultery and fornication not for rape.
the condition of mehram is just for hajj.going out side home is not included in it.
castratrate the rapist???……the patriarches of the secularism wont approve that.
such a barbaric and inhumane punishment?
are you sure you represent the modern secularism?
@Inheritance: What if a woman wants to be independent and wants to earn her own living? Will she be given an equal inheritance under Islamic law? There have been cases in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt where such women have been denied this inheritance. One shariat court judge in Pakistan went as far as telling the petitioner that she should "do her duty and get married".
"Natural dispostion"? So all women are impulsive, afraid and easily perturbed? Wow. Which medical school did you go to again?
Further, your continuous mention of the woman's "place" is quite demeaning. You make it sound like a woman is just there to do the dishes, cook, have sex with her husband and pop out babies.
I wouldn't mind castrating rapists at all. In fact, this view is held by numerous secularists. Oh, I forgot, in your dictionary, secularism means nudity, alcohol and free sex. Heh.
I hope that one day you can transcend your pre-programmed schema to actually understand the philosophical underpinnings of secularism rather than your reactionary, bitter nonsense about how secularists are immoral zionist pets.
Dr Jawwad
Why we must bring religion into everyting?This is the biggest danger to Islam.
Do we really realise that Islam is the second biggest faith.
Once Islam was an inclusive club whoever says he is Muslim ,is a Muslim.
We cannot start prosecuting Muslim,you have not offered namaz ,you do not cover your face or you are not Sunni or Shiatt or Wahabi?
Who to follow and how to follow?Let us not complicate things and every Musim tries to be a good Muslim or better themselves.How much true we are in that,that is important.
What was the time period of Imams ,even after Maududi so many things have changed.
Muslims have to adopt fast,learn fast as per our needs.In my personal openion,Shariat is there which gives the general rules and draws the lines and these are Hadood of Allah ,at least we must try to avoid crossing those lines.
—
Dr Jawwad
I have a problem living in Saudi Arabia becasue I am single.I have problem in Dubai as well.
In Pakistan my survival alone is possible if I have a huge family who support me.
People are not attracted towards the West because of
Fast or Night life.
Trust me,clubbing is extremely expensive and people cannot afford it.Even English cannot afford it they spread it out as per their budget.
What attracts everyone is the independance,it is not the independance to sleep with people,
It is the independance how NOT TO SLEEP with the one you do not want to.
If we have to live alone.That is fine.We know why we are alone.It is not a compromise neither a sacrifice.
Why in Islam we have made everything a compulsion?
———
I avoid to use the word Secularism ,I do not understand it,any society which supports the weak,the children,the elderly and the woman is a good society.
——–
Freedom is a beautiful thing only people living in Europe can appreciate it.This freedom is for everything to follow the religion one wants to and live by ones own decissions.i do not find anything anti Islamic in it.
———-
to my great annoyance Al-Mahjroun have started a campaign here as well ,to have a Khalifah,ironically none of the ISlamic countries are stable strong yet they have a mission to change Europe into Khilafat.
Why muslims think Islam begins and ends at women?
What happened to science,literature,art,architecture,poets,psycholigist ???
We have closed all these doors .Woman or human is the last victim of it.
People of Pakistan are not concerned about religion ,they are concerned about oppertunities about survival,about safety and security.
I further do not understand why we have to preach Islam to
Muslims and non-Muslims as well.
Tolerance is the only way forward.
————
I hope Muslims understand this without killing eachother the way Catholics and Protestants did.
—————-
We just need one examplery Punishment from the Coruts of Pakistan for Feudals and things will be fine.
——
@ farrah k raja!
"Why in Islam we have made everything a compulsion?
True! And I realized that may be it is because of my “reactionary” and “bitter nonsense” approach towards many things around me.
Or may be because of guilt of not being a good practicing muslim.
Yes I agree with you Islam must be a choice not a compulsion.
"Why we must bring religion into everything?
In 1988 I met a polish guy (converted Muslim) in khost/Afghanistan. His appearance was surprising for me. He had a fist long beard with ankle high shalwar. I was curious and I asked him why he kept the long beard and why his shalwar is ankle high and I told him it is not necessary. He said it is not my job to decide what is necessary and what is not. I am the follower of islam not the partner in the business. And then I realized the meaning of:
“idkhiloo fi silmi ka’afah” = O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the Evil One; for he is to you an avowed enemy.
( sura baqarah – 208)
Also mentioned in other places:
This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion..
(surah al maidah- 3)
Rest assured that what I quoted is just for answer the question. Not to force any body.
There are many English women in London England who have been “reverted back to islam”
Did you see any changes in their life style after embracing islam. if you did see changes in their life style, it would be only because of they brought religion into every thing.
“Once Islam was an inclusive club whoever says he is Muslim ,is a Muslim”
Completely agreed that islam is a inclusive club rather then racial credo. I can not be a muslim just because I born in muslim family but because of my submission.
This club has a rules which you have to follow. And there is tests for every one. Higher the position in this club harder the test will be. Allah (swt) tested every one even the prophets.
Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe," and that they will not be tested?
We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false.
( surah al ankabut – 2/3)
Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. To Us must ye return.
( surah al anbiyah-35)
Allah’s Apostle said, “If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials.” (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 70, #548)
“We cannot start prosecuting Muslim,you have not offered namaz ,you do not cover your face or you are not Sunni or Shiatt or Wahabi?
There are 2 sections of islam.in one part it is all between ALLAH(swt) and the muslim.
The othe section where an Islamic state deal with it’s citizens. This is the area where problem arises. In easiest way I can put you that ALLAH(swt) can forgive the murderer but islamic state can not.
Freedom is like a loaded gun. In the hand of soldiers, it gives you a relief but in the hand of child or psycho???……..you know what I mean.also i want to ask you that what will happen if you give the same freedom which you enjoy in england to the people of pakistan?? agreed that there will be many many good outcomes but what about freedome in the hand of pakistani secular and liberal fascists…?
“I further do not understand why we have to preach Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims as well.”
Just because it is an order of ALLAH (swt).
"Verily Man is in loss,
Except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy.
( surah al asr- 2/3)
What happens when people like me who are not even good practicing mulim start to preach just because ALLAH (swt) ordered us we forget/avoid many things which are essential for a preacher.
In the last I assure you that bhashan was not intention in this post I believe the most needed person to be preached is me. kiyonke qabar ka hal murda hi janta hey.
Take care and have a nice day.
Dr Jawwad
My point is we are Muslims,of course ,we know what we are suppose to do.If people are not doing it,they feel uncomfertable maybe or they are not upto that level.
We have to accept through life we go through different phases of thoughts.
I am sorry ,it is not against you but I am extremely allergic when people start getting too much into personal life.Like once an aunty ,wanted me to burn all my books which were not hadith and Quaran.Why should I?I like to read poetry.I like to read stories.
Stop watching the TV?Why should I ,I like to be aware off what is happening around me.
Not having a photograph on the Passport .I love to have photographes.They are memories.They are not for worship ,but they remind me of my childhood and friends.
I am sorry I am a human being and not a Saint and neither like this person as you mentioned;
" a polish guy (converted Muslim) in khost/Afghanistan. His appearance was surprising for me. He had a fist long beard with ankle high shalwar"
I am sorry I am highly uncomfertable in the presence of such people.Do they understand Islam really?
Islam is tolerant,they think I am not Muslim enough?
Who gives them the right to decide If I am Muslim enough or not.
I am born Muslim it seems these people have accepted Islam to kill people like me.
Their Faith is superior to me.
Islam is not Black and White?
Islam is not only beared and ankles high Shilwar?
Neither a Clash n Kove Necessity ornament?
I equally do not like women in Europe wearing Hijab?
Goucchi,Armanni scarfs.
These are reaction Islam to gain attention and to find identity.Which they never find anyway?
Islam is not a name of five times drill it is thought process and code of life.
Saudi women ,Iranian Women and Jamat-e-Islami women ,their hijab is so different ,because it comes from the roots,the culture,to them it is like as a duppatta is commonly for Pakistani Women so that is not odd.
Why cannot we see life in general terms?In my personal understanding of Islam,it is all inclusive of Talibaan,of Turkey,of Saudi,of Iran ,of Pakistan,of Africa of Europe.
1.I denounce Muslims only two types:
Extremist ; who wants to kill others self acclaiming they are the right ones and rest are all wrong.
2.I denounce Muslims who do eat eat pork,drink and live pornographic lives in the name of freedom of self.
Rest of the world,like Christians ,Athieists,Jews,Hindus,Budhiests ,I have no problem with them.It is there faith they follow it .I would not allow them to mock at me or my belief.
i wish if i could convey my point properly.
my point was not to instigate you to follow the hard core islam niether i wanted to tell you what should you do or what you should not.
what i wanted to tell you is just that islam require complete and unconditional submission at least at the level of faith (if not at the level of practice)
let me clearify more.RASOOLULLAH(saaw) ordered muslims to have a beard.that order will reache to every individual according to the strength of his iman.some one will start growing immediately as soon as they know about that.
some one like me hesitate to have a beard because it causes some disadvantages in getting married,in getting comission in pakistan army and especially even society will not accept it.so i will show reluctance to comply this order.in spite of my wish to follow the order.
and there are folks who hate the people with beard.
my point was just to tell you that atleast one should not hate the beard because if you hate the "sunnat" how can you remain muslim.
and you completely misunderstood the polish guy.he just gave the answer (with reason)of my question.he elaborated the true meaning of iman in just 2 sentences.that is why i feel that converted muslims of europe and usa are far better muslims than the muslims of pakistan because of complete submission.
(the polish guy came to kill russians not the muslims)
i don't know about your aunty. the fundamentalist i know have excellent taste of literature and art,watch the television(ofcourse they do not see obnoxious soaps of star tv) many of them are very good player of cricket and football,many love to go the beautiful northern areas,they talk like us and laugh like us,they discuss many things in detail like we do.
then what make them different from us?
the only difference is that they do not stop the islam to penetrate deep in the soul.they asked no question,not expressed reservations,did not asked for proof.just a complete submission.
what is life? what about the transition of life in different time,space and shape.what about the transition of life of extremly short span to infinite.what about the judgement day?the day when all mankind will be accountable in front of ALLAH(swt).
"I am sorry I am a human being and not a Saint and neither like this person as you mentioned"
this is the way ALMIGHTY made us.impatient and sinner.he do not want us to be a saint.he just want us that if we do mistakes, we revert back to him,offer his forgiveness with serious repentanc.
hijab,beard and ankle high shalwar are just orders like many.there is more important thing than these orders.you know what it is?
it is the sense that we are not sent on earth just to enjoy life,art,music,literature etc etc etc.
the sense that we have to go back some day.
that day we will be accountable.
tell me what will you do when some day some one come to tell you that you have to go a deserted place for unlimited time where you will not find any thing you need in ur daily life and he give you the option to carry any thing along with you.
tell me do you leave any thing in your house?
"Complete submission"; "ask no questions"; "no reservations".
And then you call me a fascist. Heh. Please look up the meaning of 'fascism'. You'll find your ideas more in line with fascism than mine.
Farrah ji, Perhaps, my comment on your article was the first one. Apprehending, that my views may not be taken as interference in Islamic religion, I Kept quiet, while reading all the comments of various people. My view is very straight and clear. Beleive in yourself, what you are doing and what you want to do. Religion should not interfere in these personal beleifs and one should stand by his/her beleifs and only listen to your heart and no one else. Afterall, it is your life. You live as the way, you want to.
how can you understand the faith based submission.
how can you undertstand the passion to please the almighty?
how can you understand a the reason behind refraining from drinking and eating in the fast when there is no one to see him?
how can you you undertsand what make a person awake all night and spend his time in praying,crying and repenting in front of almighty when no one is there to force him?
how can you undertsand the passion behind the faith?
there is no way you can undertsand these thing.
because these things require faith on ALMIGHTY, HIS MESSANGER AND JUDGEMENT DAY.
do you believe?
Nope
i do like many others.
tell me what will you do when some day some one come to tell you that you have to go a deserted place for unlimited time where you will not find any thing you need in ur daily life and he give you the option to carry any thing along with you.
tell me do you leave any thing in your house?
—-
Yes Dr Jawwad!the bloody body remains at home and I take my soul and kind deeds.
——-
In the worldly terms I might not take anything apart from my bank card and passport.Ready to go.
For prayers you only need heart and silence.
——–
Dr Jawwad
I am not debating anything ,regarding that Polish person I was giving my openion.About new breed of Muslims.
I never said I do not like beard or ankle high Shalwar,how can I say that.My first teacher in life was Hafiz Sahab ,I respect him very much,every person who goes to a mosque has ankles high shalwar.
My poetry teacher in MA English was a bearded man with high shalwar.
Anyways the point I was making about the new convert was that why a Polish guy wears a Shalwar Qameez? as an allegiance to Islam.I see many coconuts here who think high shilwar,beard and they can speak aggressive English and they are on top of the world bringing caos to the protests ,at present time to me they are not scholars neither tolerant Islam.
It says to me exactly the same thing when I see boys in Pakistan with Gothic Tea shirts without knowing they represent Vampires.
Vaneet
Thanks for your very worthy comments .I agree with you.Persuit of dreams is something important in life .We have to live by our decisions and consequences.It does not mean we should stop dreaming or persuing them.No price is too high to own ones self and living by ones dream.
Dr Jawwad,Danial and Farrah
Are three strong minded people.As long as they stop branding eachother,judging eachother ,they can live together in one country,that country has to be Pakistan and Vaneet is our friendly neighbour .
That sounds good.
dr jawaad with all due respect (and I have lot of respect for your comments)
hijab , beard and ankle high shalwar
(or dress to be precise) are not orders…. they may be suggestions or symbolic acts but these are certainly not orders.
also why should not we enjoy life on earth ? this nihilistic ideas may be christian but have certainly nothing to do with Islam.
and one must enjoy it with ''the sense that we have to go back some day.that day we will be accountable.''
exactly.
you don't really believe that Allah will hold me accountable because i do not have a beard, (I am not eligible for hijab) and because i (certainly) do not wear trousers above ankles… or do you ?
i think we should leave it at what Farrah has said
''they can live together in one country,that country has to be Pakistan and Vaneet is our friendly neighbour .
That sounds good''
dear aslam azhar!
i think i have written what i wanted to elaborate.repetation will convert this discussion into a bhashan.and i hate to give a bhashan on any thing.
but certainly i would like to say that this is your life and you are responsible for it no one else.do make a right choice and before making any choice just look all sides,merits and demerits,immidiate benefits and ultimate consequences,primary goal and secondaries.
have a nice day and take care.
@farrah k raja!
aap ney to sarey anday aik hi basket men dal diye hen. 🙂
Dr Jawwad
@aap ney to sarey anday aik hi basket men dal diye hen. 🙂
Yahee tou baat hai.Saab nai saath rehna hai.
Farrah – I found your piece very interesting and well thought out.
There are so many questions that need to be raised while realizing that we might not get their answers right now.
However, and I do admit that it is a sticky point for me because I'm from India, I found your comparison of Pakistani women with Indian women utterly lacking in the same insight that you showed in the rest of your piece. Not all Indian women are limited to the Saree in their clothes. Different clothes in different parts of the country. Including the salwar kameez in the northern parts, and now in most of India. Jeans and t-shirts are a common sight anywhere. A lot also depends on the religion of the woman, but I have a lot of Muslim friends, and a Muslim sister in law, who do usually wear jeans in their day to day lives.
I hope you will try and see your neighbors as more than a caricature that wears sarees at some point in the future.