Salam Aleykum WRWB

A couple of days back, I posted about celebrating Moharram as an Islamic New Year for Muslims, and that we should make resolutions to increase our Eman, and work towards being better Muslims. I also wrote about how we should exchange gifts, have a special family dinner to instill the importance of Moharram and religious events in the minds of our globalized generation.

I now, upon partaking in discussions on Islamic forums [Manic Muslims] found out that to do so is actually Bidaah [innovation] in religion, and is therefore,  completely unacceptable.

Jaabir (R) narrated Muhammad(S) said,

 “To proceed: The best speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance and example is that of Muhammad, and the worse of all things are the newly invented things (in the religion), for every innovation is a error and a misguidance.” (Muslim) “…Every innovation is a going astray and every going astray is in the fire.” (Tirmidhi)

And Allah says in the Qur’an:

“This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” (Al-Maidah 5: 3)

“Say, O people of the Book exceed not the bounds in your religion, trespassing beyond the truth. Nor follow the vain desires of people who went astray in times gone by, who mislead many and strayed from the even way. Curses were pronounced on those among the children of Israel who were disbelievers, by the tongue of David and of Jesus son of Mary, because they disobeyed and persisted in excesses.” (Al-Maidah 5:77-78)

So before anything, I would firstly like to apologise for the misinformation. Allah the All Knowing, knows it was unintentional and may He forgive me, inshAllah.

Now as for the reasonings as to why it is Bidaah, we must firstly understand that Islam does not draw parallels to any other religion/way of life. Allah has set forth for us the framework of beliefs and practises as Muslims, and we do not need to conform to the way of, or draw parallels with, a non-Muslim lifestyle in order to make Islam more approachable for our generation or for inviting other people to Islam. The best way has already been prescribed for us in the form of being a live example of what you preach, i.e. following the rules of manner and speech as laid out to us by Allah and the Prophet pbuh, by being gentle in speech, by being helpful to the society around you, by being gentle in speech and manner and speaking to the non-Muslims/Muslims-seeking-knowledge on a level that they would understand, by seeking knowledge and growing as a person, etc.

Besides, the only reason we are even trying to make it into something festive is because the Gregorian New Year has such hype and pomp created around it, mostly due to the Non-Muslims celebrating it. Why be insecure and try to innovate Islamic events as something similar to their customs when we have or own festivals and times of jubilance?

Allah says in the Qur’an: “Guide us to the straight path – the path of those whom You have blessed, not the path of those who have earned Your wrath nor of those who have gone astray” (al-Faatiha, 7)

The Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam said,

“Whoever resembles a people is one of them.”  (Recorded by Abu Dawood)

There are only 3 festivals in Islam, and they are Eid-ul-Adha, Eid-ul-Fitr and on a smaller scale, the day of Jumu’ah or Friday. On these days we should celebrate within the parameters of Islam and enjoy all festivities such as special treats, family dinners, gifts, dressing up, etc. in order to make Islam as enjoyable and approachable as possible for non-Muslims/younger generations, etc.

And lastly, why must we have just one special day to set spiritual/religious resolutions? I think we as Muslims must continually remind ourselves to be better Muslims. We must make the intentions to strengthen our Eman and review our deeds constantly. We need to kickstart our Eman every time that we go astray, and not just on one special day.

Therefore folks, I once again apologize for a blunder I committed, and inshAllah I learned a lesson to be more careful next time when touching up on such issues.

And Allah knows best.

Salam Aleykum WRWB– Fe Aman Allah.

The religious practice of Niqab ultimately leads to one of the greatest debates of modern times- to or not to? Some Muslim scholars [believed to be among the “stricter” ones] deem the Niqab to be compulsory, while others say it’s like “extra” credit for your faith. Whatever the case, there are some inevitable negative stereotypes that are connected with the Niqab.

Even in a predominantly Muslim country such as the U.A.E., there are quite a few preconceived notions about Niqabi women. Many believe them to be uneducated, belonging to a lower level of social hierarchy, the popular belief of being “oppressed”, being made to wear a Niqab by parents [particularly by the father], being orthodox, extreme, having a non-existent fashion sense, having a strict approach to life, and basically general ideas somewhere along these lines. I wish to break up these negative stereotypes associated with Niqabis and enlighten people a bit more on the issue that will improve the fundamental issue of open communication between various cultural groups, which is a must for a multi-cultural country, such as the U.A.E.

I am a 17-year-old “part-time-Niqabi”. I took to wearing the Niqab as a product of my own will, not being forced to or even “suggested” to wear one by any of the members of my family. In fact, more often than not, I was told I’m too young to wear it. When I went out with the Niqab, I immediately felt the difference. When you’re a Niqabi, people expect you to be a certain way. They expect you to be unaware of the cyber-world, of what goes on outside the four walls of your home. They believe you are unaware of popular teen subcultures, cyber-culture, technology, that you can’t openly communicate in English, etc.They think you haven’t the faintest idea of what TV-shows are on top of the list, who the hottest celebrity is, etc. What they do not know is that simply put, me as a teenager, it can be absolutely normal for me to wear Converse under my Abaya, carry a skull-printed handbag, wear jelly bracelets, actively blog, stay connected to the outside world, hold probably more knowledge than them about technology and cyber-cultures, go out with my friends over the weekends, follow the latest fashion trends, listen to rock-music, watch the latest movies and STILL be a Niqabi. The life of a Niqabi is a life just like any other woman. She may have various interests, probably a bit more on the religious side, but she is absolutely “normal”. Niqabis are being turned away from jobs, rejected from interviews, and are unable to take positions as successful career-oriented women such as lawyers, journalists, etc., all because of a personal religious choice that doesn’t even get in anyone’s way. This is a violation of the basic human right to freely practice one’s religion. I’m not saying that all those stereotypes are false, because they may have sprung up from somewhere obviously. But it’s wrong to negatively stereotype Niqabis. The reason for this being that as education improves and grows in all parts of the world, people are becoming more informed about other religions, particularly Islam in this context, and increasingly women are opting for Niqab in the west, which means that stereotypes associated with Eastern cultures are becoming false, as the west is believed to be quite “freedom-oriented” and “advanced”.

I strongly urge employers to be more open to employing Niqab-clad women in their firms, and understand that it will in no way, hinder their performances.

I think that as a predominantly Muslim country, people within the U.A.E. as well as outside, should broaden their visions and understand that increasingly, as education and knowledge improves, not all Niqabi women are oppressed, uneducated and socially-inactive, that they probably hold the same or more amount of knowledge as you, and that most importantly, they dream of having a thriving career whilst not having to compromise on the most vital aspect of their life- their religion.

Lately, I haven’t been feeling so upbeat as I usually do. Negative thoughts have been gripping my mind and filling it with low self-esteem. As I was preparing for Taravih prayers and everyone was lining up in the rows up-front, a quick thought wandered into my mind– no matter how worthless we feel, no matter what part of the social hierarchy in this Duniya [this world] we are in, Islam always restores our dignity, our status and our worth to us. Islam views all people as equal to one another. There is no one better than another when it comes to skin colour, skills, beauty, job, status, money, wealth. Qur’an Chapter 49, Verse 13:

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.

No man has superiority over another through race, gender, nobility of lineage, not knowledge, etc. what raises somebody in ranks in the sight of God is one’s level of god-consciousness. and only Allah knows what is in the hearts of people.”

And it’s not just in words that Islam advocates this. The thought that led me to this is one of the examples of how this is PRACTISED.
Having lived in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai all my life, I see people of different nationalities every single day. How does Islam advocate equality, unity and brotherhood? The 5 daily prayers that Muslim [men] are supposed to offer in the mosque, they are supposed to be standing SHOULDER TO SHOULDER. There should be no gap, and no row must be empty in between. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a king, a Sheikh, a Hafiz, A Haji, a commoner, a labourer, a peon, a laundry-man, you are supposed to stand side by side, shoulders touching. This is to liberate the members of “lower” levels within the hierarchy, and basically eradicate the concept of “caste” and “social hierarchy” within the society.
And ofcourse, when all members of the neighbourhood come and pray together 5 times a day, a special bond is formed between them as the piety brings them together.
Another example of how Islam practically advocates equality, unity and brotherhood is that when the Muslims go for Pilgrimage to the Holy Ka’bah, all Muslims [men] must wear two pieces of unstitched white cloth wrapped around their bodies. This is in total submission to God, and it symbolises that no one is better or higher in the sight of Allah, except in their Taqwa [being God-fearing/conscious of His Commandments] and Din [Faith]. All men stand as equals before their Lord, a king wears the same 2-piece cloth as a blue-collared worker wears.

And last but not the least, Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah [Chapter 2, verse 267-268]

“O Believers, expend in Allah’s Way the best portion of the wealth you have earned and of that We have produced for you from the earth, and do not pick out for charity those worthless things which ou yourselves would only accept in disdain by connivance, if they were offered to you. Understand it well that Allah does not stand in need of anything whatsoever and has all the praise-worthy attributes. Satan holds out to you the threat of poverty and prompts you to adopt a shameless niggardly conduct, but Allah holds out from Himself the promise of pardon and bounty. Allah is All-Embracing, All Knowing.”

Hence, Islam urges people to give the best portion of their wealth to those in need, meaning they should be treated as equals, should eat from among the best portions of food that Allah provides to us daily, should be given the best clothes that we can afford for ourselves, and basically, they should be treated equallly.
This will not only promote equality, but if all Muslims were to practise this [along with Zakah], poverty would be completely eradicated from our society, inshAllah [God-willing].

And Allah knows best.

Hope this post helped you educate about Islam and clear any misconceptions that you guys might have.
Email/comment me for any topics that you wish to read, and I shall get back to you inshAllah.
Selam Aleykum WRWB,
Fe Aman Allah.

It’s not uncommon in today’s world to hear the [ignorant] masses claiming Islam to be a religion of terrors. It’s also not uncommon for people to assume or indirectly claim to know everything there is to know about Islam based on the image portrayed by the Taliban. Let me make one thing very clear– terrorism has no religion. There can be terrorists “belonging” to any religion, but they never represent it. Tamil Tigers, Taliban, Nazis, etc. They represented different religions, then why are they not being judged? Why is it that Islam is always the notorious one? It’s downright gullible how people claim Islam to be a religion of terrorism, when the very word Islam is derived from the word “salam” which means “peace” in Arabic. In the religious sense, it means submitting to God’s Will and His Laws. Therefore, a Muslim is the one who follows Islam, or submits himself to Allah’s Will and adheres to His Laws. It’s funny how Islam is labelled a terrorist religion, when upon greeting the Muslims say “Selam Aleykum Wa Rahmat Allahi WabarakatuHu” which translates to, “May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you”. Islam cannot be a terrorist religion, because Muslims are only commanded to fight in the defensive. To wage a war his strictly forbidden in Islam. To clear doubts whether Taliban really is even a Muslim concept or ideology, allow me to quote verses from the Holy Qur’an, Surah Al Baqarah, Chapter 2, verse number 204-210:

“There is a certain type of man who charms you in this worldy life with his glib talk. He calls Allah to witness again and again that he cherishes good intentions in his heart, whereas, in fact, he is the deadliest opponent of the Truth. When he gets power he directs all his efforts towards spreading mischief in the land, destroying harvests and killing human race– whereas Allah (Whom he makes his Witness) does not like mischief. And when it is said to him, “Fear Allah”, vanity seizes him and makes him adhere to the sin. Hell is the proper place for such a person and it is a very bad dwelling in deed.”

Now the Verses make it absolutely clear. I don’t see how a few hundred people make up for the billions of people following a religion around the world. More than that, I don’t see why people so easily and blindly believe what the media says, but question what the Qur’an says? The media is not and will not ever be the right place to learn about Islam. There are political motives behind every report that is given out on TV. Almost every news channel/media company is corporate. It is all owned by the politicians and there is almost no “free-speech”. So next time you set out blaming Islam for the denounce-able acts of a few, think again. And please, for the love of God, do your freaking research. That’s what Google’s for, remember?