The Hijaab

Lots of people ask me why are wear the hijaab (head cover). The answer is not complicated and it is juts a matter of belief of the heart. However, this was an article that I wrote approximately 6 years ago and revised a few times….

The term Hijaab has a literal meaning of something close to a veil or covering. Its Islamic concept however is much greater in depth and perhaps forms an important corner stone of human social life. The western media has been extremely quick and ruthless in tainting the Hijaab as a vivid expression of suppression of women in Islam. The truth is far from it.

The Hijaab is not only a covering of ones head or body. It is not a camouflage either, but it is a bold expression of female modesty and submission to the will of Allah. It elevates the status of women from being an item of exhibition or a source of lust, to a pinnacle of dignity. It epitomizes the highest levels of respect a woman can reach. As the Quran says “Say to the believing women that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear there of”(24: 31)

The Hijaab is a loose garment worn over one’s usual clothing. It should conceal the shape of the female form. A woman in Hijaab must have her body covered from head to toe except what must ordinarily appear thereof: the hands and the face. Her gaze should be towards the ground. Her posture or walk should not attract undue attention. Allah says in the Quran in Sura 33:59, “O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the women of the believers to draw upon their over-garments. That is more appropriate so that they may be recognized and not molested”

The human female form is a work of divine art. It is to be respected. It is to be protected from eyes that roam and evils that linger. When the requirements are met, the woman is naturally elevated to a very high pedestal of dignity and virtue. The roots of a dignified society spring forth from the womb of the woman in Hijaab, who commands everyone’s respect.

The lack of understanding Islam or the deliberate refusal to do so by the west and those who ape the western culture, will never accept that the fact that when a woman covers herself in the true spirit of Islam that is a supreme act of sacrifice as well as satisfaction of pleasing none but Allah. It is really impossible for them to understand that while a woman in Hijaab physically closes herself to the world, she opens to herself the Gates of Paradise.

The commercial exploitation of women in the form of models and advertisements, even upto the level of complete nakedness shows that if there is no proper dress code for a woman she becomes an article valued in money. In contrast the woman in Hijaab becomes a symbol of female dignity and purity.

If every woman adheres to the spiritual and physical concept of Hijaab and every man accepts this divine decree, the world would definitely be a better place to live in.

Humanization

Some of my previous posts have been miserable failures of attempts to humanize soulless matter. This one isn’t about humanizing objects and other such matters. It is rather about dehumanizing ourselves.

The word in context - humanizing - may slightly differ here; as in it means “giving life to” or “making human of” After all we should have the freedom of expression, shouldn’t we?

Most of us tend to connect ourselves in a strange manner to the vehicles we own, our beds (specially when away from home), machinery and other equipment. Every person has someTHING that he or she is emotionally connected to. SomeTHING that only death can part us from. A childhood toy, some creative software application, a book or anything at all? Now we cannot deny that can we? Pets and plants are at a stage between the lifeless and the living. But here let us just stick with those connections that are solely materialistic.

It is definitely not a bad thing. But is it a good thing?

In the process of making mutual connections with these so called mechanistic soul-mates, do we tend to loose the humanness in us too? Most people today are proud of the fact of being semi-human. Lost with industrialization and hooked on by technology so much that we imply ourselves as those that are little good for anything else other than fixing up something mechanic. Are we really meant to be so?

Where has all the good sense of humour and romance gone to? The cheerfulness of the hearts and the music of the voices have perished. All we do is think mechanically, talk mechanically, act mechanically and in the process, forget that we are human. Isn’t being human surely the highest of all possible states? Then why is that we strive to degrade ourselves into the machine-man age? Do we agree that the best of both man and machine will merge to evolve into a more extra-ordinary piece of work that has much more than a soul or mind? With the AI attempts of making the machine into a man… is the reverse really coming true? Well, it seems like not far away is the era of man mating with machine.

However, to all those of us who believe that we MUST NOT loose that human touch let us put together ourselves and be a little more human each day. Because if we bring evolution upon ourselves too fast, I seriously cannot imagine where it will end

What’s common between alcohols and make up?

Men who consume excess alcohol and women who wear too much make up have character deficiency problems.

The Sting

The painful truth stings the night
Never in my life have I missed something so much before
Whenever there was something tickling my mind cells,
I always turned to him,
I would talk and he would listen
Quietly and Patiently
His silent breath
And his tremble upon my touch

He never let me down, not one moment
I never parted from him
Not one single night or day
Everywhere I went
Every tangled thought
He was there to share it with me

He stood by me right through the final year
And when I was angry or sad or full of fear
His comforting entertainment
The games we played
And the music we listened to

I didn’t know then that I was in love
And now that he is gone
I realize the stinging truth

Never have I ever missed my lap-top ever so much

The First Two Classes...

I don’t have to really sit in an MBA class of 2 whole hours to find out that “Finance is the language of business”. What artistic literary phrases that have absolutely no sense! And I scribble some notes down because I get the feeling that the professor expects me to. Then he asks us some rather silly things and a few talk of some experiences at their work places, trying their best to fit in some dry jokes. So I fake a laugh. (The experiences were a little interesting). I scribble more notes in different colours and managed to draw a few very cute things and then to my horror this really big guy (man rather) wants my notes. I happened to have some poems scribbled in it so I hesitate a little but explaining why I can’t lend the book would have been a worse challenge… so I just gave it to him saying “I hope you can understand my scribbling”. I’m sure he won’t. Then in the soft skills lesson we are asked to make this silly origami thing out of some note paper. I managed to make something that has no name. (MBA also helped me learn that I have forgotten most of my hand-work). Then we had to write three goals and three obstacles in order of difficulty that prevented us from achieving these goals. Something that I ask my students do, too. It went on ok… you know those times you wished the clock hands moved real fast. In any case I come home with this pain, right in the middle of my brain and I want to just sleep but then dinner is forced into me and I fall into the midst of… And I’m wondering is this really the right attitude to start with?

A thousand miles begins with one step but no one said it ends that way…

Not quite the title for this one but….

….Ok so I started the mba and next Sunday is gonna be my first class insha Allah.
I’ve totally been out of the studying mode and I don’t know how I am gonna handle the work load and stress. People are saying all kinds of things but here I am sailing on. A year ago it was different story… I thought ‘bachelors’ and that’s it…. but now the requirements have changed. Your first degree is just the first step and really doesn’t get you the thousand miles following. And getting academic gives all the more credit to that statement. I however hope Ill find some time now and then to write a few lines for my blogs.

The Prophet's Last Sermon

This Sermon was delivered on the Ninth Day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H in the Uranah Valley of mount Arafat.
"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don't know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (Interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived...
Beware of Satan, for your safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have right over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.
O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah , say your five daily Salat, fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.
Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qu'ran and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.
All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. "Be my witness oh Allah that I have conveyed your message to your people."

Gifted, Priceless

It’s my dad’s birthday today and I actually wrote him a letter. Hand made cards, poems and letters with gifts used to be the norm, every year till I was about 10 or 11 and then it gradually stopped. Time and other things came up. So this year I did it and I hope it made him happy. And I hope that I can make him happy always. The best gifts are those that money can’t buy like peace and happiness and love or even a smile…. So if you are lost about what to do for a loved one then get a pen and put your heart in words…. Words cannot do much by themselves but sometimes it just might move a mountain… you never know…