Friday 15 October 2010

Apparently if I wear my hijab I'll be left boneless & diabetic!...? Wait... Whaaat?

Oh no! Apparently if I wear the hijab it might cause my body to slowly shut down due to a... vitamin d deficiency...? Overreaction much? I think so. Ok, so I applaud the people (sarcastically) who are trying their hardest to make it seem like modesty is a bad thing & all we're doing is increasing our chances of getting bone deficiencies. But could you expect any more from these people?
    To those who are wondering what the heck I'm talking about, have a look at this article here.

OH OH! Bradford is mentioned in this too! A proud day indeed for all of us. Not.

  I have a serious problem with this article and the researchers who conducted this! So apparently if I wear my hijab outside, I'm going to increase the risk of having bone deficiencies, diabetes, heart disease etc. Uh, what? I'm sorry, I didn't realise that the millions of women not only wearing the hijab, but the niqab aswell are all fracturing their bones & getting diabetes as we speak? ’sis, I just got diabetes’, ‘shut up! Me too!’ ‘I heard it’s ‘cos we wear the hijab’, ‘for real? Better take it off then sis before we get Crohn’s disease ’. When did this happen & why were we not informed by the hijab wearing ladies from previous generations about the monstrous effects hijab can have? How very irresponsible of them! *rolls eyes*.  My aunts wear the niqab and so many of my family friends do too, but guess what? They're all amazingly, OK! (Alhamdulillah). You wanna know what causes the diabetes in our cultures? Lots & lots of sugar! Take jalebi for example it’s literally boiled sugar. Better give up the Jalebi before you give up the hijab sisters!
   So I'm not saying that the researchers are completely wrong here either, 'cos yeah the more sun your skin is exposed to the more vitamin D you're likely to have in your body. However, I'm sick to death of people trying to find new ways of slating modesty. There’s other ways you can get your daily injection of Vitamin D. How you ask? Through vitamins and the food you eat. (Do a quick Google’ing to find out which foods contain the most Vitamin D ladies!).
   Are these same people who said this:
"People may be at risk if they are South Asian, African or African-Caribbean and have low exposure to sunlight, for example if they observe Hijab or do not spend much time outside."

expecting us to take off our hijabs and go traipsing around with our flesh out to up our vitamin d? Uhhhhh, nuh. What about the women who wear hats when the suns out? Surely they aren't getting too much vitamin d either. Oh & FYI, it's not only Muslims who like to dress modestly. So do Jewish women or women with a bit of common sense ('cos seriously why would you wanna be treated like a piece of meat with all your flesh hanging out for the boys to wag their tongues at, if you had common sense?). So why is it Muslim women are targeted only in this research. It's just laughable.


   Oh & please (I'm begging you!) for anyone out there who's thinking of using this as a new excuse to not wear the hijab, don't even think about it! If you use this as an excuse, are you trying to say what Allah has ordained for us to do as His command is deficit in some way? 'Cos sister you're better off having a slight deficit of vitamin D than having a deficit of Imaan =)

    P.s. If you're seriously worried, then pop over to your local Holland & Barrets and pick yourself up some Vitamin D tablets. Woohoo. Problem solved ladies! May Allah keep us all strong and healthy! Ameen.

The beauty of a woman in Islam

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh!

This is something I posted on my Facebook a few days ago after reading it online. You can find the original letter on the 'Crescent and the Cross'! So the letter was from an American woman to all the Muslim women across the world. The thing is, the things she's written in the letter is obvious if you're a proud Muslimah already, but for some reason when an outsider comments on the beauty of Islam we tend to realise even more how lucky we actually are... Even though we already knew... It's strange, but that's what happens! If anyone knows why this is the case, enlighten me please =)

  Ok back to the point! So I came across this letter & it really touched me because so many of us are completely unaware as to how lucky we are to be Muslimah's! However, this lady, without being a Muslim has seen the true beauty of a woman of faith. She talks about how Muslim women are always seen looking after their children etc. Which is a lesson for those women out there who are scared that if they're stay at home mums they'll be looked down upon by society. Please don't feel this way, because looking after your child is very rewarding! & Yay we get sawaab for it too! However, I also believe women are allowed to work, but that's a discussion for another topic (coming sooon!). There's only one thing I have to say before I post the article here & that is to the brothers out there. Now some of you may not like what I have to say, but tough. A lot of you men (now note that I'm not saying ALL, so refrain from jumping down my throat please) have a tendency to use the excuse of 'if you stay at home dear and cook and clean for me and look after the kids think about how much sawaab you'll get!'. It's true, us ladies WILL get sawaab for this (& it's rewarding to know that when your children grow up with deen that you had a big part to play in all of it!), but some of these same men are gallivanting around doing whatever they please with their friends while they keep their wives under lock and key at home to do all the work. Is that fair? Simply put, no. You should take your wives out too! How depressing a life is it for someone who has to stay at home all day & all night? Very. Anyway I'm gunna post this on a different topic, along with the subject of women working, 'cos honestly I'm just gunna go completely off subject otherwise.

Jazak'Allah for being patient & reading all of that. Now here's the letter. Enjoy! =)


A letter from a Christian to Muslim women 

By Joanna Francis Writer, Journalist – USA 

A letter from a Christian to Muslim women

March 7th, 2007

The Israeli assault on Lebanon and the Zionist “war on terror,” the Muslim world is now center stage in every American home. I see the carnage, death and destruction that have befallen Lebanon, but I also see something else: I see you. I can’t help but notice that almost every woman I see is carrying a baby or has children around her. I see that though they are dressed modestly, their beauty still shines through. But it’s not just outer beauty that I notice. I also notice that I feel something strange inside me: I feel envy. I feel terrible for the horrible experiences and war crimes that the Lebanese people have suffered, being targeted by our common enemy. But I can’t help but admire your strength, your beauty, your modesty, and most of all, your happiness. Yes, it’s strange, but it occurred to me that even under constant bombardment, you still seemed happier than we are, because you were still living the natural lives of women. The way women have always lived since the beginning of time. It used to be that way in the West until the 1960s, when we were bombarded by the same enemy. Only we were not bombarded with actual munitions, but with subtle trickery and moral corruption.

Through Temptation.

They bombarded us Americans from Hollywood, instead of from fighter jets or with our own American-made tanks. They would like to bomb you in this way too, after they’ve finished bombing the infrastructure of your countries. I do not want this to happen to you. You will feel degraded, just like we do. You can avoid this kind of bombing if you will kindly listen to those of us who have already suffered serious casualties from their evil influence. Because everything you see coming out of Hollywood is a pack of lies, a distortion of reality, smoke and mirrors. They present casual sex as harmless recreation because they aim to destroy the moral fabric of the societies into which they beam their poisonous programming. I beg you not to drink their poison. There is no antidote for it once you have consumed it. You may recover partially, but you will never be the same. Better to avoid the poison altogether than to try to heal from the damage it causes. They will try to tempt you with their titillating movies and music videos, falsely portraying us American women as happy and satisfied, proud of dressing like prostitutes, and content without families. Most of us are not happy, trust me. Millions of us are on anti-depressant medication, hate our jobs, and cry at night over the men who told us they loved us, then greedily used us and walked away. They would like to destroy your families and convince you to have fewer children. They do this by presenting marriage as a form of slavery, motherhood as a curse, and being modest and pure as old-fashioned. They want you to cheapen yourself and lose your faith. They are like the Serpent tempting Eve with the apple. Don’t bite.

Self-Value. I see you as precious gems, pure gold, or the “pearl of great value” spoken of in the Bible (Matthew 13: 45). All women are pearls of great value, but some of us have been deceived into doubting the value of our purity. Jesus said: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7: 6). Our pearls are priceless, but they convince us that they’re cheap. But trust me; there is no substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity, innocence and self-respect staring back at you. The fashions coming out of the Western sewer are designed to make you believe that your most valuable asset is your sexuality. But your beautiful dresses and veils are actually sexier than any Western fashion, because they cloak you in mystery and show self-respect and confidence. A woman’s sexuality should be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man who loves and respects you enough to marry you. And since your men are still manly warriors, they deserve no less than your best. Our men don’t even want purity anymore. They don’t recognize the pearl of great value, opting for the flashy rhinestone instead. Only to leave her too! Your most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no compensation for that loss. You are flawless diamonds. Don’t let them trick you into becoming rhinestones. Because everything you see in the fashion magazines and on Western television is a lie. It is Satan’s trap. It is fool’s gold.

A Woman’s Heart.
I’ll let you in on a little secret, just in case you’re curious: pre-marital sex is not even that great. We gave our bodies to the men we were in love with, believing that that was the way to make them love us and want to marry us, just as we had seen on television growing up. But without the security of marriage and the sure knowledge that he will always stay with us, it’s not even enjoyable! That’s the irony. It was just a waste. It leaves you in tears. Speaking as one woman to another, I believe that you understand that already. Because only a woman can truly understand what’s in another woman’s heart. We really are all alike. Our race, religion or nationalities do not matter. A woman’s heart is the same everywhere. We love. That’s what we do best. We nurture our families and give comfort and strength to the men we love. But we American women have been fooled into believing that we are happiest having careers, our own homes in which to live alone, and freedom to give our love away to whomever we choose. That is not freedom. And that is not love. Only in the safe haven of marriage can a woman’s body and heart be safe to love. Don’t settle for anything less. It’s not worth it. You won’t even like it and you’ll like yourself even less afterwards. Then he’ll leave you.

Self-Denial. Sin never pays. It always cheats you. Even though I have reclaimed my honor, there’s still no substitute for having never been dishonored in the first place. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight, begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside, we know that we have been cheated. We secretly admire and envy you, although some of us will not admit it. Please do not look down on us or think that we like things the way they are. It’s not our fault. Most of us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot. Don’t be fooled, my sisters. Don’t let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure. We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost. Hold onto your purity. Remember: you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. So guard your “toothpaste”carefully!

I hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended: the spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration. From your Christian sister with love.

This article is republished with the kind permission of the author. The original can
be found on Crescent and the Cross. Joanna Francis is a writer and journalist. She manages her own blog.

The tale of the very uncomfortable situation in the ladies' room.


Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh!

So I could go two ways with this story, either get straight to the point about my 'wonderful' visit to the ladies room, OR tell you about the events that led up to it. I think I shall opt for the second as I love to long everything out!

    It started around 6.15pm, most of the family were gathered around the TV watching Come Dine With Me, one of the best shows I've ever seen, when mum brings up the topic of dinner. Long story short, we decided to go out. So we all run upstairs to pray Maghrib and get dressed, & I start to have some serious problems with my hijab. It just would NOT sit on my head, it kept slipping this way and that way. You would think it would be because of the material, but nah, this was your regular pashmina, known for its sturdiness. So i start to tighten it more under my chin because it seemed the looser it was the more it would slip. It got to a point where it was so tight the sides of my cheeks were popping out giving me the 'chipmunk' look. Hot. Mum, meanwhile was shouting at us to get downstairs, so I loosened it slightly and did my signature folding at the top of my scarf (rather messily) and dashed out.

   We arrived at a restaurant called Red Chilli, it looked amazing from the outside. We walked in (blindly as you'll come to realise in a minute) and sat down at the table. After opening up the menu we realised it was just standard desi food and not Thai as was advertised outside. We did a quick sweep of the restaurant with our eyes, (obviously) & realised that alcohol was being served... At the front door where we'd just walked in! Big no. So we call over the waiter, at this point all of us with our heads down ('cos let’s face it, it's always embarrassing to get up & walk out 2 minutes after you've been seated, you know everyone is gunna be staring at you). Mum gave one of her motherly smiles to the young waiter and explained that we could no longer stay & apologised. We all jumped up like bullets were about to be fired from under our seats and almost ran for the door with about as much dignity & grace as a herd of cows, although in retrospect the way we exited probably drew even more attention than if we'd walked out properly. Once we got into the car, mum tried to blend it in the way she always does, pretending as though she wasn't embarrassed and we were all overreacting to the situation. From what I can remember though, I'm pretty sure she ran the fastest.

   So then we travelled back down the main road & decided to go to Cafe Akbar’s, which tbh we should have thought about going to in the first place, 'cos that's the only place we ever go. We always end up at other restaurants first, & then turn the car around and end up at Cafe Akbar’s. Everytime. Without fail. I'm not kidding.

    Us kids & gran walked in first while mum parked up & what I believed to be the manager came up to us. He asked us to follow him, so I quietly told my brothers & gran to follow him, but they didn't clock on & were just sat there like wax dummies. Beautiful, beautiful wax dummies I may add, with their mouths hanging open with an expression of what can only be described as confusion mixed with 'you're a freak api, stop talking to us'. The manager turned around & gave me a look as if to say 'are you coming or do you want me to carry you there? ‘(Which I have no idea how he would do, unless he had a forklift in the back of the restaurant no-one was aware of). So I turned to my family again and said 'come on guys!', at this point I'm hovering in a weird position. Left leg drawn towards the manager, right leg being pulled like an invisible magnet to my family & I was caught doing an awkward hop dance from left to right 'cos I wasn't sure what to do. Follow the manager and leave my family stranded 'cos they all of a sudden lost hearing, or wait with my family & have the manager carry me & my family to the table? Finally they clocked on & we were seated. Not an awkward situation at all.

   Ok so now the whole point of this wonderful story! We finished dinner about an hour and a half after arriving & I could feel my scarf slipping from my head & from the stares I was getting from people I could only imagine that I looked like a clown with a lopsided face due to the positioning of my hijab. I quickly excused myself & headed for the ladies. Once I was in I was completely relieved to find that it was empty, 'cos the ladies isn't a very big space & you feel like you're treading on peoples toes if there's more than 2 people in there at a time. Hijab pins in mouth, I take off my hijab & begin to reposition it when all of a sudden 2 girls walk in. Noo. I feel uncomfortable when I'm fixing my scarf & there's someone else there, 'cos I get paranoid & think they might be staring at me. Thankfully one of the girls went into the toilets so there was just enough space for us two ladies to fix our scarves, & one less person to get paranoid over. But nope, she wasn't fixing her scarf; rather she was taking pictures of herself in the mirror. Gah, my worst nightmare! Whilst all this was going on, her & her ultra-hip lady friend *please note the sarcasm*, who was sat on the toilet, were gossiping about a girl at their table. I tried my best to keep my lips sealed as I found out that the girl taking pictures of herself was in fact the host of the party.. I felt so uncomfortable about what was being said that I tried to rush putting on my hijab. This tactic failed & it took longer because I messed it up rushing. I was battling with my thoughts as to whether or not I should shut the two girls up & teach them to not say such horrific things about a person, or just keep my mouth shut but I didn't feel like arguing with the two girls. Her lady friend then emerged & decided to join her friend in taking a picture. Woo, what class. The whole time I was thinking (whilst also rushing to fix the slipping hijab), 'please don't get me in shot. I know people in Bradford & I know this will be placed on your Facebook as a profile picture. My dignity is on the line. PLEASE DO NOT GET ME IN SHOT SISTER!! I think she got me in shot.