ERRORS, OMISSIONS AND MISTAKES

Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem
Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmathullah wa barakatuhu

Relatively recently I posted a blog about wearing gloves and veiling the eyes in public.  As I said then, I am not a scholar, just a very ordinary muslimah  who was greatly blessed by having an erudite Papa, learning from him about our beloved deen when I was a child.

In consequence I am very wary about getting involved in preaching about how my sisters (and brothers) in Islam should live their lives.   I am no shaykh, no scholar, and my learning comes from listening to my Papa and many men far wiser than I will ever be.  In consequence it was with some trepidation that I wrote that Blog on gloves and eye veils.  

I hope that people reading it understood that I was merely expressing an opinion based on commonsense rather than copying out all the relevant daleels to prove my point.  Surprisingly I got several e-mails from sisters agreeing with my view and even 2 saying they were going to act on what I humbly recommended.

No, I am NOT boasting about that blog as the reason for mentioning it.  Instead this is time for me to say, "Astaghfirullaah" loudly and publicly.  For two sisters pointed out that, while I was advocating covering the eyes in public, my avatar for my Blog profile was actually a photo of myself  with my eyes clearly visible.   OUCH !

I did immediately alter the photo to one where my eyes are well concealed but the incident has taught me not to preach or advise something without ensuring that I am doing it fully myself.   In blogs, and in blog comments, it is easy to say how something should be done, but it is less easy to ensure that one obeys one's own instructions or recommendations.

That blog and my Error, Omission or Mistake taught me a profound lesson about how to (as our Western friends say)   "Practice what you preach".  And I hope it may have instilled a little more humility into me in my personal jihad to became a worthy slave to Allah (subhana wa ta'ala).

 xxxxxxxxxxx

(I have deliberately not discussed whether it is haraam or halaal to show pictures of people in blogs.  That is a topic being discussed by people far more competent than myself, and is one where there is a very wide diversity of opinions.)

KEEP ON BLOGGING FOR ISLAM

Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmathullah wa barakatuhu

As I was saying to a wonderful sister in Islam earlier today, I find it difficult to 'lecture' my readers here, and to tell them what to do.  Maybe this is because I am the daughter of a wonderful teacher and Islamic scholar (may he find peace in Jannah) and, as a child, felt most comfortable when I was listening to his ever wise words to my siblings and myself.  I even recall at maybe 5 or 6 years of age sneaking in to listen to him talking to his students;  I may not have understood too much of what he said, but the experience has made me a good listener.  But NOT a good lecturer !

So it was especially rewarding when I received two emails from friends who had read the article from the marvellous sisters at Niqabi Nuances  ( http://niqablovers.blogspot.co.uk  )  that I reposted here.  That article, "Niqab Is Necessary In Islam" had persuaded an old friend of mine that she should start wearing niqaab as routine and she had emailed me to say so.
 

The other mail was from a sister who I have never met.  She explained that she had worn niqaab when living in the Gulf but that, since returning home to Jordan, she had worn it less and less until it had reach to state where she had not worn niqaab for probably two years.   She then told me that reading the article I had reposted from Niqabi Nuances had made her really feel ashamed of what she had done, and that she had make a promise to herself that she would always wear it in future when necessary.

I was also surprised to hear from a sister I was at school with, saying she had read my own "Eye Veils and Gloves?  Or Fitnah?" ,  and that she had seen the logic of my arguments, and would do her best to do as I had suggested.     Since then I have received mails or messages from two more sisters who also seem to have taken in my words and have said they will try to amend the way their veil. 

In writing this I am NOT saying "Look at me;  I am SO clever!"  Quite the reverse, as I know that it is Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) who has made these sisters alter their attitudes.   All I have done is to open a small channel by which sisters may discover a way to please Him. 

At the other end of the 'success spectrum',   I know how hard it can be to keep blogging when you have little or no response from your readers (No, I am NOT criticising, as I know I go to a lot of blogs, read what is said, and then move on without leaving a Comment)  What I am trying to say is "KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK  -  KEEP BLOGGING !"  

If you ever feel unappreciated, please PLEASE log at an item on You Tube which I hope will convince you to carry on insha'Allah. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N49jRf3Z0hQ 

It can be lonely as a blogger but, if you blog correctly and seek to please Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) with what you write,  you will be performing dawah and you may be aiding unseen brothers and sisters who you may never know but who might have gained from your words.

Tidy Up Time

Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmathullah wa barakatuhu 

I wandered in here today, intending to write something meaningful which would make all my visitors stand up and applaud.  But.........................

As Amina is constantly telling me, I may appear organised and efficient but, under the surface I am hideously chaotic and surround myself with chaotic things;  this blog included. 

So I spend half an hour tidying things up so that the Blog is easier to read and its peripherals are less scattered or non-existent apps now visible.

I discovered such horrors as visitors being barred from commenting unless they were dearly loved by Google or Blogspot.  So now everyone can have their say here, and I hope they do.  Also you can now get email notifications of when I post  -  and I intend to do so far more regularly now insha'Allah.

In addition, I have a funny story to tell (against myself) when I write my next blog;  it's embarrassing but the sister who saw what I had done is threatening to expose my mistake on her own blog unless I come clean.

With friends like that, who needs enemies.    Love you for the sake of Allah, sweetest sis!  Yes, you know who you are  :) 

Hope you enjoy the blog better now and insha'Allah I will be back soon with that

 "something meaningful which would make all my visitors stand up and applaud "

Eye Veils and Gloves? Or Fitnah?

Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmathullah wa barakatuhu

It seems strange that there should be so much heated discussion amongst muntaqabāt as to whether it is fardh, mustahabb or totally unnecessary to cover one's eyes and hands in public or in the presence of na-mahram.  

 

For me, this answer is simple; whenever possible 'in public' I do cover my eyes and hands for two reasons:

Firstly, I do this as I feel it pleases Allah (subhana wa ta’ala)

Secondly, because I feel that leaving eyes and hands exposed is contrary to the idea that all of a woman is awrah.  This point is confirmed by many daleels, the two most evident being:

Tirmidhi with a Sahih chain reports... "Rasulullah (Sallallaahu “layhi Wasallam) said “All of a woman is “awrah.”

(Shaikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid quotes this hadith narrated by Tirmidhi with a sahih isnaad and says this is a direct hadith from Rasulullah (Sallallaahu “layhi Wasallam ) and has made it clear that a woman must cover everything including the face and hands!)

 

and

Shaikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid Quotes All of the woman is awrah based on the hadith of "Rasulullah (Sallallaahu “layhi Wasallam) said “All of a woman is “awrah.”

(Narrated by Tirmidhi with a sahih isnaad). (This is the correct view according to the madhhab of the Hanbalis, one of the two views of the Maalikis and one of the two views of the Shaafa”is. )

But even if I leave aside such daleels, as an ordinary muslimah I have to ask myself if leaving exposed such potent parts of a woman’s body as her eyes and hands can possibly be correct.  If we feel we must cover our faces, is it not strange that we should leave the most attractive parts of our faces -  our eyes  -  exposed? 

There is an old proverb that says “The eyes are the windows to the soul”, and a glance at them, especially when framed between niqaab and head veil, can show the mood of the muslimah wearing niqaab. Eyes reveal laughter or sorrow without showing the rest of the face, and sadly they can and are used for seduction and causing fitnah. So it must be simple logic that they should be concealed in front of na-mahram if possible.

Also are not the hands always being used to convey messages? Anyone who lives in the Middle East will know that no conversation is carried on without a lot of hand movements to reinforce the speakers points. Watch an Indian dancer and you can see how hands can be used as tools of seduction. In addition our hands say a lot about us and can undermine our anonymity and even hint at our beauty - a young woman’s hands are normally smooth while her mother’s will show her age.

So to me it seems logical that in front of na-mahram and in public places I need to cover eyes and hands so as to ensure I do not cause fitnah. Obviously there are times when I have to uncover my eyes to a degree or totally, like when driving or reading something in small print. But walking in the street or in rooms where there are na-mahram, it is not any trouble or handicap to flip down an eye veil. Yet we often see muntaqabāt walking in the souks, or on buses, or where they are many men, with the eye veils attached to the niqaabs flipped back so as to expose their often highly made-up eyes. I have to ask why these sisters bother to wear niqaab at all when they are showing, even accentuating, the most expressive parts of the face

My own belief is that covering eyes and hands whenever possible is mustahab. However I do sincerely think that it is up to every sister to make up her own mind as to the answer to this question. The fact that someone wears niqaab and covers her hands and eyes does not necessarily means that she is good muslimah, but I do think we should all individually look at this problem with open minds and come to our own answers. Surely it is a small matter, specially when niqaab equipped with eye veils are so easily made or bought with very little more effort or expense than ones without them.

And to those muntaqabāt who wear theirs flipped back all the time, I would say that lowering your eye veils does not make you freaks or half blind people who are liable to walk into lampposts. What the simple act of pulling down a thin eye veil does do is to help prevent fitnah. It is something done in a second or two that may well have beneficial consequences out of all proportion to the VERY minor inconvenience caused to the individual muntaqabāh.

If you don't wear eyes veils of gloves, as I said earlier, it is your choice. But I hope you at least consider the points I have put forward in this short blog insha'Allah.

"Niqab is Necessary in Islam" A Repost from Niqablovers

 

Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmathullah wa barakatuhu

I have never reposted other bloggers writings.  But I have just read a remarkably well argued and yet straightforward argument why Sisters in Islam should wear niqaab.  

It comes from Niqab Lovers wonderful Niqab Nuances blog

http://niqablovers.blogspot.co.uk/

I hope you will visit her site as her blogs are all so worth reading insha'Allah

                                          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

NIQAB IS NECESSARY IN ISLAM

I already made a post on whether wearing the Niqab is necessary in Islam here.

But not all people are convinced of the necessity of the Niqab. The other day in Madrasa, my teacher was explaining the importance of the Niqab in the light of the Quran and Hadith. I think I wrote everything in my post about the Niqab being obligatory. But here are a few more proof that wearing the Niqab is actually very important and obligatory in Islam.

People who argue that the Niqab isn't necessary in Islam usually bring forward two Hadith. The first one is:

1) Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: Asma, daughter of AbuBakr, entered upon the Apostle of Allah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands. (Narrated by Abu Dawood # 4092).

As we all know, the Quran wasn't revealed overnight. It was revealed in stages. Which brings us to the time the verse from Surah Noor was revealed.

Narrated Safiya bint Shaiba:
‘Aisha used to say: “When (the Verse): “They should draw their veils over their necks and bosoms,” was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.” Volume 6, Book 60, Number 282: (Sahih Bukhari)

So, this proved that the Sahabi women covered their faces the moment that verse from Surah Al-Ahzab, verse 59 was revealed. Now tell me, wouldn't Asma (ral), the daughter of Abu Bakr (ral) a prominent Sahaba, have covered her face too? Of course she would have! They were the Sahaba women, and they followed Allah's orders the moment it was revealed!

So, isn't it obvious that the Hadith mentioned above would probably have taken place before the revelation of the verse in Surah Ahzab? Niqab wouldn't have been necessary before that verse was sent down, but it's obvious that the wives and daughters of Prophet Muhammad sallalahu alaihi wasallam clearly saw the Niqab as obligatory after that verse from Surah Al-Ahzab- which is why they covered their faces immediately after that verse was revealed!

The next Hadith now.

2) The Prophet (saws) said: "A pilgrim woman must neither cover her face nor wear gloves." Related by Bukhari and Ahmad

People who argue that the Niqab isn't necessary bring forward this Hadith too saying that if women weren't required to cover their faces in Hajj they obviously wouldn't have had to cover their faces outside of Hajj as well.
Well, this Hadith doesn't show the Niqab isn't necessary. It shows that the Niqab IS necessary. Doesn't this Hadith actually imply that women outside of their Ihram actually covered their faces? Otherwise, Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) wouldn't have mentioned that women should uncover their faces in Hajj if they weren't required to cover it in the first place.

Furthermore, there is another Hadith that you'll be interested in:

It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: The riders used to pass by us when we were with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in ihraam. When they came near us we would lower our jilbaabs from our heads over our faces, and when they had passed by we would uncover our faces. [Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1562]

You see sisters, this is the difference between us and the Sahabi women. When Allah ordered them to do something, they did it immediately. They recognized that verse in Surah Al-Ahzab. They understood that they were required to cover their faces. So they never hesitated in following it.

And we? When the Sahabi women never wasted a minute after that verse was revealed to cover their faces, we spend years and years contemplating- even arguing- that the Niqab isn't necessary!

If the women at the time of Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) covered their faces, shouldn't we be doing it as well? After all, aren't they the women we should be following?

It's up to us to decide whether we ought to wear the Niqab or not. I've done by best explaining it. Following it or not is up to you.

Wallahu 'Alam.

Jazakallah Khair!

Ramadan Mubarak

اللهُ أَكْـبَر، اللّهُمَّ أَهِلَّـهُ عَلَيْـنا بِالأمْـنِ وَالإيمـان، والسَّلامَـةِ والإسْلامِ، وَالتَّـوْفيـقِ لِما تُحِـبُّ وَتَـرْضَـى، رَبُّنـا وَرَبُّكَ اللهُ

Allaahu 'Akbar, Allaahumma 'ahillahu 'alayna bil'amni wal'eemaani, wassalaamati wal-'Islaami, wattawfeeqi limaa tuhibbu Rabbanaa wa tardhaa, Rabbunaa wa Rabbukallaahu.

Allah is the Most Great. O Allah, bring us the new moon with security and Faith, with peace and in Islam, and in harmony with what our Lord loves and what pleases Him. Our Lord and your Lord is Allah.

Ramadan Mubarak !!!

Wow, either I am getting old or time has flown past in the last year, as Ramadan is here again and I am trying to focus less on the mundane trivialities of my life, and more on my deen and on the spiritual aspects of my existence.  In fact this is the fifth day and I am settling into my Ramadan routine when I go back to studying our glorious deen, and trying to live more in accord with the teachings of the Noble Quran.

I have always loved Ramadan, maybe as a little girl because I knew at the end there would be presents and parties.  Later, after my dear Papa (may he rest in Jannah) had patiently taught me about the Holy Month's true meaning, because it was a time when, out of school anyway, I could find peace and start to learn more about myself so I could come a little bit nearer to pleasing Allah (subhana wa ta'ala). 

Now it is more a time of reflection which, in my case, is not always a comfortable experience as I look back at all the mass of things which I promised myself I would do this year.  Too many things remain undone but I have also done things which I have been promising myself I would do for ages.  However...........................

I am still unmarried, still childless, a state of affairs which horrifies certain sections of my family, even if my siblings are more laid back about my solitary status.   I have problems with my ex in-laws who are afraid that I will sully the reputation of their wonderful son  -  may he too find peace in Jannah.  In many ways I can understand their concern;  young widows just do not exist in their world, they are remarried as soon as is decently possible after the statutory period of mourning.   So to have a daughter in law who is not only unwed but who is living away from what they see as 'home' is, to them, a horrifying and potential catastrophic state of affairs.

Me?  I don't see myself as a catastrophe waiting to happen, but I do realise that I have gently and almost imperceptibly (for me anyway) swung away from the standards that I learnt from my dear Papa.  So I am using Ramadan as an opportunity to refocus on my deen and to try and rectify my failings.  One of the on-line groups I belong to, a wonderful sisters-only haven and peace and great advice, published a Ramadan Check List of things that we, as Muslims, should do daily during this month.   I printed out two copies  -  one I stuck to the fridge where I would see it whenever I got a cool drink during the day (I drink bottled water liberally at this time of year when it is so hot here), and the other on my 'office' wall where I can see it when I look up from my computer screen.  Like now................

I love the Check List but I am rather like Amina who says, almost whenever she sees the one fixed to the fridge door, "Oh NO!  I have forgotten to do................."  and then cites whenever is on the List and which she hasn't yet done that day.  We are only at the fifth day and already some of the Check Lists boxes are already starting to remain un-ticked.  One of them, "Gave some extra food from Iftar to my neighbours " remains unticked for 3 days so far.  And that is pricking my conscience as our neighbours are a poor family who have a tiny house 500m from here who have been very grateful whenever Amina and I have dropped in with some food for Iftar. 

And why?  Because it takes time, because we have to change into 'decent' clothes before leaving the house, because it means a kilometre walk there and back when it is still very warm outdoors, or else having to get out the car and drive there.  Because, because.................   None of these reasons  -  No!  they are plain 'excuses'  -  are valid.  All they prove is that I am not doing those things that make Ramadan so special.   So I have red-ringed all the boxes about giving food to neighbours and both of us are determined that we will make that trip each evening, insha'Allah.

Now I must go as my Check List tells me it's time to read one new Hadith and to study its meaning.  But, now I am blogging again, I think I will add a new (maybe weekly) box to my Check List: "To write a regular Blog, and to be honest when I do so insha'Allah."

Aliyah