“It (Burqa) will not be welcome on French soil. We cannot accept, in our country, women imprisoned behind a mesh, cut off from society, deprived of all identity. That is not the French Republic’s idea of women’s dignity.” (President Sarkozy)
Walking into the office one morning, I was called over by one of my colleagues and asked what I thought of the situation in France. I gave my views and what followed was a stream of interesting discussions. Having to work in a small and somewhat pressurised office environment, when it comes to stating the obvious – my colleagues do not hold back.
Commuting home with one of my colleagues, we launched into an interesting conversation regarding hijab and its relation to beauty. Her opinions went somewhere along the lines of, “Beauty is something that should be shown off –otherwise why did God create it in the first place?”
At one point my colleague was fumbling through her make-up bag to reapply her lipstick. “It doesn’t make sense to hide it all away from men. They should be able to control themselves anyway.”
Sarkozy’s comments bring up many interesting points about hijab and it’s relation to freedom. If hijab stands for everything that is against freedom and democracy – is the exposure of beauty freedom? Is my colleague, who painstakingly paints her face each evening on the tube, demonstrating an act of freedom? Do I, a woman sitting opposite her in hijab represent someone who has no voice and no freedom?
Looking at the reaction of the media to Sarkozy’s comments – many of the journalists and broadcasters who protested against him, seemed to have only done so on the basis of it being an infringement of human rights. No one really defended the actual hijab itself. This makes me wonder if what Sarkozy said somewhat rings true with what a lot of people are thinking anyway; that hijab doesn’t make sense – it hides and imprisons the woman wearing it.
What many people fail to understand is that when you begin to observe the hijab you feel a protection which empowers you spiritually and gives you an inner strength. As I walk around the office, I’m not being eyed up and down like candy. When I meet new clients I don’t spend twenty minutes in the bathroom obsessing over my hair and makeup like my other colleagues do. I am free from that pressure, but ironically the pressure that I do face is of a different nature.
Waking up in the morning and deciding what hijab to wear, and whether or not it is loose enough and yet smart enough to fit into the office environment, is actually the easy part. The hard part is when you step into a new office and have about fifty pair of eyes staring at you. It’s when you’re standing in the middle of the tube in the sweltering heat and trying to bluff the ‘I’m-not-that-hot-really’ look, and it’s having to face the barrage of questions everytime the hijab issue comes up. That is then when you feel the pressure, it’s then when you are truly being tested.
In attempting to answer the questions, I am comfortable with the knowledge that I am at least trying to fulfil my role as a da’iya if nothing else. But separate to this is a deep and underlying motivation to show that Muslim women are just as capable of contributing to society without compromising their hijab. Rather it is the hijab, as I am learning from my own personal and professional experience, which gives me the dignity and the power to break into arenas I would otherwise not have considered.
Having said all this I realise that the discourse around hijab, beauty and freedom is interesting and needs to be discussed more openly. We can’t simply justify the hijab as something that ‘God has commanded’ – but understand why God has commanded it.
Just as it is good to meet people who have challenging views on hijab it’s also motivating to meet those who don’t. Speaking to another colleague about the issue of hijab, I asked him about his thoughts on it. He answered without hesitating.
“I admire you for being proud of your faith. I don’t need to see your hair or certain parts of your body to find out who you are. I know that already from getting to know you as a person.”
Now, if that is not dignity and respect, then I don’t know what is.
Hmmmm…. (to self) since when was hijab just a triangular scarf on the head and not a way of life?
Its good that you have such an intimate contact with your male colleague… for dawah right. A great opportunity for dawah.
@Abdul Hey slave? Do you know the punishment for slandering a Muslim woman? Whose slave are you anyway? Allah’s or mine? With a name like ABDUL people might get confused.
Write a full Islamic name [Abdul, followed by name of Allah], or you might just be my slave!
So slave, do not dare slander my sister.
@Abdul
Hmmm….(to self) since when did Abdul know how it is to wear a hijab? maybe he can enlighten us more than sister Nacima can.
As for the ‘intimate colleague’ comment….you have a very limited mind for you to comment or insinuate such filth from the following two lines
“I admire you for being proud of your faith. I don’t need to see your hair or certain parts of your body to find out who you are. I know that already from getting to know you as a person.”
Brother Abdul, noting the time you wrote your comments, maybe you should spend longer at taraweeh rather than limiting yourself to idle comments.
You are very limited or maybe just lacking nourishment from a days fast..only Allah knows best.
I’m astounded by Abdul’s comments. Sheer lack of Islamic adab on any level, and further in the month of Ramadan. The Muslim community is certainly in need of no external enemies the way we continue to attack and slander each other. An apology is seriously in order.
SubhanAllah, let me address your points… Your interpretation of what I have said is that I was slandering this Sister Astaghfirullah,! Quite clearly I have said it is a great opportunity for Dawah, how is that slander?
We so often forget that the work place and our actions within are an opportunity to reach people of other faiths. This Sister MashAllah has used her good character to influence a colleague who InshAllah will embrace Islam.
In any working day their a moments where we have a few seconds with our colleagues and we should not waste out time idly talking at nothing when an opportunity for dawah presents itself. This sister is an example of that positive dawah approach.
My original comment was not directed to this Sister but in general to those Sisters observing so called “Hijab”. The Muslim community is in need of education on these issues and a Sister like this as a positive role model is exactly what we need. This Sister does not define Hijab as a triangular scarf so how could my comment possibly be related to her?
The limitation of this blog is that it does not allow you to edit posts once they have been posted making it very difficult to plump out the comments, or rephrase after submitting a comment.
However it is perhaps your inability to read without your own interpretation which has caused the problem here. An email does not give tone of voice, expression or direction yet you have all chosen to interpret this in a negative way. Between the lines is perhaps an apt name for this blog as you have all read between the lines. Your grasp of the English language is severely deficient if the only understanding of intimate is one that has a sexual connotation. Intimate can simply mean to be thoroughly acquainted within a similar area (i.e knowledge of working environment) which is exactly what two colleagues working together would be. How dare you suggest my intention was anything but this?
You should apologise for making false accusations against me, especially during Ramadaan. Allah knows best my intention.
As far as Shahek’s comments – now surely the correct adab would be to assume that someone not attending or leaving early from taraweh salah would have a shariah reason for their absence. Perhaps you should think more carefully about your own comments.
I wrote very short comments perhaps next time I will explain every single nuance and inclination of the text I am writing so that it cannot possibly be misconstrued.
I get a sense that IFE is a closed group so I will not spend my time further viewing your blog. I hope you are not so unwelcoming to future visitors.
I ask Allah to forgive us and accept our Dua and assist us in correcting our intentions. May Allah accept all your fasts
Furthermore to Nacima’s Brother. The irony of course is that you of course have given your name as the brother of your sister which of course also has no basis in Islam. People in Islamic history have never been known as the brother of a sister. But I get your point in general. I wasn’t suggesting I was anything but a slave of Allah but of the 99 names I couldnt decide which was more apt.
Qur’an 49:12
O ye who believe! avoid suspicion as much (as possible):
for suspicion in some cases is a sin:
and spy not on each other nor speak ill of each other behind their backs.
Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother?
Nay ye would abhor it…but fear Allah:
for Allah is Oft-Returning Most Merciful..
@Abdul-lah What a joke. Your original words are very clear, and the meaning are all clear to all except you. Your subsequent, ill-judged explanation is a blatant falsehood. Given your eloquent prose, and your understanding of nuances and tone of voice in the written format – your claim that you were misunderstood is simply unbelievable.
In fact your second comment “Its good that you have such an intimate contact with your male colleague… for dawah right. A great opportunity for dawah.”
The sentence construction is well thought out. And is designed to question Nacima’s integrity. It is a rhetorical/ironic statement and NOT a statement of fact. I’m you would know that, since you claim that others’ grasp of English is limited.
The final evidence for this is your statement “The limitation of this blog is that it does not allow you to edit posts once they have been posted making it very difficult to plump out the comments, or rephrase after submitting a comment.”
This really proves your explanation to be false. What you really mean is that you’ve been caught out! And now regret writing it. But instead of apologising you give such a pathetic explanation that somehow we misunderstood, and written text has its limitations (but also you’re an expert in the language).
To claim that you meant Nacima was doing such a good thing, and is a positive role model is a blatant flasehood. You seriously need to check your intentions. While we cannot judge intentions – your actions and wrods are clear for all to see.
When those were pointed out to you, you blame limitations of the blog, and also IFE for being a closed group. When found out you blame everyone and everything else. What a disgraceful chicken.
If you really believed what you said originally, why don’t you have the guts to defend your position? Instead of this weasel excuse and explanation. People like you are a disgrace. We can see through your faux religiousity.
May Allah guide you inshAllah, and forgive you. Allah alone is my judge, you do not know what is in the heart of a person. Since I was anonymous it doesn’t really matter whether I replied or not. I sought to correct a misunderstanding. Fear Allah Brother with regards to your judgement.
@abdul-lah Nice one. But you’re wrong again. Allah alone is YOUR judge – but you judged Nacima? What double standards.
Allah alone is the judge of intentions – but actions are worldly matters and people can judge, that’s why we have crimes and laws. So your ploy to get off hasn’t worked. Your comments (actions) are clear for all to see. An apology is still in order!
SubhanAllah, it appears as if the only way to resolve this is through arbitration if you could please give me your name I will raise the issue with Azad Bhai. I assure you your slight on my Character with prove to be cause for your apology.
Sorry “will” not with, may Allah accept your Dua at this time inshAllah.
For the sake of Allah I ask Sister Nacima to forgive any misunderstanding that may have been caused by my messages. InshAllah it was evident from my subsequent messages that no offense was intended. Furthermore Brother please do not reveal your name. I ask Allah to forgive you and I ask Allah to take my intention of hiding your slur on my character as a means to hide my sins on the day of judgement. I ask Allah to forgive all your major and minor sins. I ask Allah to give you a pious wife who is the coolness of your eyes. I ask Allah to give you pious children who are a means of continious reward for you. I ask Allah to give you protection from the :ellfire and give you the sweetness of Jannah. May Allah take care of you and your family and give you good health Ameen
One important clarification, your comments weren’t a ‘misunderstanding’ – they were understood very well by all. You should’ve apologised for the ‘offence’ caused, clearly regreted by you now – but offence was caused.
Second in your long foolish comment to explain away the original offence, you stated “I get a sense that IFE is a closed group so I will not spend my time further viewing your blog. I hope you are not so unwelcoming to future visitors.”
Again you are clearly implying that you are NOT affiliated to IFE, that you are merely a ‘visitor’ on this blog. That was also a blatant lie, because in your new comment (after being caught out) you pathetically ask for arbitration from ‘Azad Bhai’! Who is he, some godfather or something? That when you get in trouble he’s going to help you out?
I take it you mean the blogger on this site called Azad Ali, a prominent member of IFE? So now you reveal yourself NOT to be just a visitor on this site. But know Azad well enough, get the drift… You know IFE and at least some of the other bloggers. That is know now certain.
So now do you see why your claim that it was just a misunderstanding is unbelievable? Because you told a blatant lie. And them claim religiousity by now peppering your comments with Islamic language. Faux religiousity is the term for this. I’d suggest you work on your character.
And about this arbitration – what planet were you on? This is not a personal dispute, or a legal matter – you wrote some offensive comments, I pointed them out. Let the readers make their own minds up! But from the comments so far, three people found them offensive and a personal attack on Nacima.
But I’m personally glad, and I’m sure the others will be, that you’ve finally seen sense and apologised for your outrageous initial comments. Better late than never, even if it was forced out of you.
I know it’s difficult because the ego gets in the way, so credit where it’s due.
SubhanAllah, you think your Sherlock Holmes, when in fact you are more like Inspecter Clouseau! I swear by Allah that I have absolutely no affiliation with IFE. Azad is known to practically everyone in East London. The fact I know of him has nothing to do with IFE. I have been polite at all times to you. But I will say that as is apparent from the evidence presented namely your responses you simply lack manners. To claim someone who is trying to clearly follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (s.a.w), by attempting to reconcile differences with a heart felt Dua and claim they are insincere is frankly disgusting. As a revert to Islam (which you will say is irrelevant) I have come across Muslims like you and if it were only for your example and not the will of Allah people like me would never embrace Islam. I must say that your manners are not from the example of the Prophet (s.a.w) and not of the character of a Muslim. Finally brother you are the one that mentioned my claimed crimes and therefore arbitration is a logical course. My witnesses are my wife who was present when I had written the comments and our discussion covered my intention at the time. Anyway who are you by the way? Are you affiliated with IFE as you mentioned we in your comments?
@Abdul-lah I’m trying to be sympathetic to you, but it’s difficult given your track record. And now you say you’re a ‘revert’ to Islam? How many reverts/converts call Bengalis ‘Bhai’ as you originally referred to Azad (’Azad Bhai’)? Are you now going to claim that it’s the blog’s fault, it’s limited because it doesn’t allow you to go back and change those earlier comments that say a lot about you?
The facts remain that you were offensive to Nacima first. Then when that was pointed out to you, you blamed the blog, everyone else’s lack of English, called IFE a closed group. You were actually apparently commending Nacima!
And then you offer an apology for misunderstandings! Implying again we were wrong when the reality is you should be apologising for the offence itself. Then Y.O.U (that’s you) brought IFE into the equation and then ‘Azad Bhai’ into the equation. Implying you know IFE and are most likely a Benagli and possibly Indo-Pak.
But now surprise surpise, you claim to be a revert! Which is the real you? After all the blatant false explanations and the faux religious language to cover up your errors – you want sympathy by claiming to be a revert? If you’re new to Islam you shouln’t be on here discussing these issues (I doubt you’re a new Muslim anyway). And if your well established whethe revert or not – then you should be judged on your actions, like everyone else. Your actions then subsequent explantions do not add up. You’re a very confused individual.
And don’t come onto online forums if you can’t take the criticism.
SubhanAllah the kind of revert married into an asian family. I have no more time to waste on such idiotic matters. The only person that is confused is you as you seem to have spent too much time on the internet and seem to think that you can gain an understanding of an individuals pysche by a few words. Brother you are wrong in so many ways. I am pleased to note you have heeded my advice and adjusted your manners somewhat. Take care and May Allah take care of you. (I mean take care of you in a pleasant way not in the style of a mafia hit for reference).
…oh yes and if your on the IFE blog it kind of already is in the equation oh and astaghfirullah! All this time and I have not greeted you properly Asalaamualaikum wa rahamatullah!
Salam brothers
Please stop now. Alhamdulillah we are all one family – maybe not happy all the times, but a family nonetheless! Praise Allah and beseech him, now that the month of mercy, forgiveness and salvation from the hell fire has left us, let us pray that Allah lets us see it again – if not let us pray that He takes us whilst we are busy in His worship. Ameen.
@Zafar
Oh my word! I agree with Zafar. Peace and love brothers!
And no! I’m not a tree-hugger!
Than you dear sister , i 100% agree with you …..may Allah bless you………..
Go ahead ,sister without compromise , with intellectuality…