Germany: Catholic leader warns against anti-Muslim incitement The leader of Germany's 26 million Catholics spoke out Tuesday in defence of Muslims and warned Christians to stay on their guard against hatemongers. |
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Germany: Catholic leader warns against anti-Muslim incitement
Netherlands' Somali community - terrorist breeding ground?
Netherlands' Somali community - terrorist breeding ground?
By Philip Smet
Created 28 December 2010 13:04
In 2009 the AIVD (Dutch intelligence and security service) reported that the jihadist struggle in Somalia was receiving support from the Netherlands. The support was reportedly being given to al-Shabaab ('The Young People') - a Somali organisation with links to al-Qaeda - which controls most of southern and central Somalia.
In its 2009 annual report the AIVD wrote: “In addition, Somalia is seen by radicalised youths as a destination for jihad.” However, the national security service found there was “No concrete threat from Somalia against the Netherlands".
In 2009, four Dutch tourists were arrested in Kenya on suspicion of being en route to a jihadist training camp in Somalia. Three of them were of Moroccan descent, the fourth was a Dutch Somali. Three of the suspects were extradited to the Netherlands where they were put on trial but acquitted because of a lack of evidence. The fourth suspect was extradited to Morocco where he is still being held in custody.
Also in 2009 a Somali was arrested in an asylum seekers' centre in the Dutch town of Dronten at the request of the US authorities. The man, actually a resident of Minnesota, was allegedly involved in raising funds for al-Shabaab. He was extradited to the US in May after protracted legal wrangling.
Twelve Somalis were arrested by the Dutch authorities on 24 December. The Dutch national intelligence service AIVD says they were planning a terrorist attack. Now Somalis in the Netherlands find themselves in the media spotlight: is their community here a breeding ground for new 'Muslim' terrorists?
The Netherlands is home to at least 27,000 Somalis who have fled the violence in their native country. The first wave of several thousand refugees arrived in the Netherlands around 1990. A second wave of refugees started five years ago.
Somalia appears to be locked in a state of perpetual civil war as a result of clan rivalries and the fight between Islamist militias and the interim government. Now it seems they are not even safe in the Netherlands. Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf quotes an anonymous source as saying that the AIVD has ‘concrete information’ that the Somalian detainees – thought to have ties with Islamist militia al-Shabaab - were planning an attack on the Gilze-Rijen air force base and intended to bring down one or more Apache helicopter gunships with rocket-propelled grenades.
Ali Ware, director of the Amsterdam Somalian Association Somvao says: “Members of the Somali community are talking to each other, asking each other how this came about and whether the accusations are true. And they are curious about how the situation will develop. I know this has an impact on the Somali community because we are now being seen as a terrorist community. And with some justification, but some (of the suspects) have apparently been released and we will just have to wait and see.”
Several extremist Islamic organisations are active in Somalia. The AIVD has warned that Somalis in the Netherlands and other countries are receptive to the ideas of the jihadists. The Dutch Somali umbrella organisation FSAN has also warned of this danger.
Integration
Many official reports point out that the Somali community in the Netherlands is badly integrated in Dutch society and faces numerous problems: high unemployment, little education, highly dependent on welfare payments, high crime rates and an inadequate knowledge of Dutch.
How is it that Somali face so many problems? Ali Ware says that is a difficult question:
“The first people to come here during the war were from the cities. They were mostly well-educated businessmen and civil servants. Their diplomas were not accepted and it was difficult to find work. Some of us emigrated to the United Kingdom. The Somalians who came here in the past five years lived through years of protracted conflict. They are traumatized and uneducated. This is a separate group, which requires much attention.”
Frustrations
AIVD reports suggest young Somalis frustrated with their lack of prospects in Dutch society may be taking recourse to extremist Islamic organisations. Ali Ware knows that other Dutch Somalis are worried about this as well. Mr Ware says he does not know anybody who is active in jihadist circles, but he does understand the frustration among his compatriots.
“It’s normal, you see. When people have no perspective, when they cannot find work or when their diplomas have little or no value, they remain stranded in a very low socio-economic class. And that can lead to frustration. You have to try to solve your own problems, but sometimes you need the help of other people.”
This summer, parliament ordered the previous Dutch cabinet to develop policies specifically tailored to the needs of the Somali community. Ali Ware would like to see programmes focussing on education and on helping people set up their own businesses. Idleness leads to frustration, he says.
http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/netherlands-somali-community-terrorist-breeding-ground
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Sweden: Two months in prison for illegal circumcisions
Sweden: Two months in prison for illegal circumcisions A Swedish court has sentenced a man to prison for performing illegal circumcisions, the first-ever conviction under the country's laws on the circumcision of boys. |
FATWA: He rejects the suitors of his daughter and other related family problems
Common family problems and solutions - II
· He rejects the suitors of his daughter
The problem:
A man used to reject the suitors of his daughter until she became old and he is very regretful. He wants to know how he should deal with this problem and whether he is sinful or not?
The answer:
There is no doubt that this father is sinful for rejecting the suitable suitors of his daughter, as the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "If someone whom you approve of his religion and morals proposes to you, let him marry. If you do not do so, it will be Fitnah (trial) on earth and a widespread corruption." [At-Tirmithi on the authority of Abu Hurayrah 
and Ibn Maajah] [Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Since it is too late now as your daughter has became old, I advise you to offer her to a righteous man to marry her even if he has one or two wives, because this is better than depriving her of marriage until she reaches menopause.
And Allaah knows best.
· My husband steals my jewelry
The problem:
I am a married woman and I have children. My problem is that my husband steals my jewelry, which my family bought me. I once pretended that I was asleep and saw him doing so. Should I keep silent to protect my family or tell him?
Please advise me.
The answer:
You are entitled to keep your jewelry and possessions that you bought or that your family bought you. If your husband has stolen anything from it, then show that you are very sorry for the lost or stolen items and ask him to compensate you or search for it.
In my view you should tell him that you know that he is the one who has taken the jewelry, as long as you are sure and that is for the benefit of the family. However, you should excuse him if he took some of your jewelry, because he may be suffering from a financial crisis that forces him to sell some of what he owns or what is accessible to him inside the house, and he may bring it back to you after overcoming this crisis.
And Allaah knows best.
· Interference of the wife's family affects the life of spouses
The problem:
I married one of my female relatives. After two years of our marriage, her family started interfering in our life and caused many problems. This was followed by a calm period and then things worsened. Allaah The Almighty provided us with a child while I was absent. When I went to her father to get her back, he accepted, but I found that my wise wife has changed greatly because of her family.
I left her in her father's house for more than a year in the hope that she would regain her senses and I made some attempts to get her back but I failed. Now, I believe it is better for me to divorce her. However, when I wanted to send her the divorce document, I was asked to bring the marriage contract, which was not registered officially and was lost two years ago. I am perplexed and do not know what to do?
The answer:
We advise you to try again to reconcile with your wife and ask some mediators to help you in this respect. However, if you have lost all hope and see that separation is inevitable, then there is no harm and you do not need the marriage contract. You are just required to tell her family that their daughter is divorced and then they are free to marry her off to whoever they want. Nevertheless, it is better for you to document the divorce in the Sharee'ah-based court and then send your wife's family the divorce document. As for the lost marriage contract, you can go to the nearest court to ask for a new marriage document and bring some witnesses with you.
And Allaah knows best.
· Should I ask my husband to provide me with a separate house
The problem:
My brother-in-law wants to marry and live with us, knowing that I never uncover my face before him, sit with him, or even look at him. He has already married and I want to ask my husband to provide me with a separate house due to the difficulty that I will suffer as a result of this situation. Does this mean that I am sowing dissension between the two brothers? Is this request lawful, knowing that my husband sees that it is better for both of them to live in separate houses?
However, my mother-in-law, who lives with us, wants them to live together.
The answer:
If you adhere to your full Hijaab (Islamic covering) and avoid the prohibited private meeting, then it is better to remain together to please the mother of your husband.
However, if this is not the case, i.e., if one of the two wives does not adhere to the full Hijaab or avoid the prohibited private meeting with her brother-in-law, then it is better for you to live in a separate house. Living in a separate house is also better if one of the two brothers is not righteous or cannot be trusted to remain with his brother's wife in the same house. For example, he may harass her, look at her while unawares or enter upon her without permission, and the like.
If this is the case, we advise you to ask your husband to provide you with a separate house to avoid hardship and discomfort.
· She deserted her husband because of hair oil
The problem:
My wife started using hair oil that she believes prevents the loss of hair. However, the smell of this oil is disgusting and I asked her not to use it because I do not like its smell.
I told her that if it was necessary for her to use something to prevent hair loss, she may use another oil or shampoo with an acceptable smell. My wife got angry and considered this request as something that hurt her. Hence, she abandoned me in bed and sleeps in another room. Please advise me. May Allaah reward you.
The answer:
The wife must obey her husband in whatever involves benefit for him as long as it does not cause her harm. In addition, she should adorn herself in such a way that increases mutual love and cordiality between them. She should remove any disgusting smell or unclean clothing. It is also prohibited for her to refrain from allowing her husband to have sexual intercourse with her whenever he wants as long as there is no harm in this for her. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, warned the woman who refrains from responding to her husband when he calls her to his bed and he sleeps while he is angry with her.
Finally, we advise the two spouses to try to increase mutual love by every possible means.
And Allaah knows best.
Common family problems and solutions - I
FATWA: He rejects the suitors of his daughter and other related family problems
Common family problems and solutions - II
· He rejects the suitors of his daughter
The problem:
A man used to reject the suitors of his daughter until she became old and he is very regretful. He wants to know how he should deal with this problem and whether he is sinful or not?
The answer:
There is no doubt that this father is sinful for rejecting the suitable suitors of his daughter, as the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said: "If someone whom you approve of his religion and morals proposes to you, let him marry. If you do not do so, it will be Fitnah (trial) on earth and a widespread corruption." [At-Tirmithi on the authority of Abu Hurayrah and Ibn Maajah] [Al-Albaani: Hasan]
Since it is too late now as your daughter has became old, I advise you to offer her to a righteous man to marry her even if he has one or two wives, because this is better than depriving her of marriage until she reaches menopause.
And Allaah knows best.
· My husband steals my jewelry
The problem:
I am a married woman and I have children. My problem is that my husband steals my jewelry, which my family bought me. I once pretended that I was asleep and saw him doing so. Should I keep silent to protect my family or tell him?
Please advise me.
The answer:
You are entitled to keep your jewelry and possessions that you bought or that your family bought you. If your husband has stolen anything from it, then show that you are very sorry for the lost or stolen items and ask him to compensate you or search for it.
In my view you should tell him that you know that he is the one who has taken the jewelry, as long as you are sure and that is for the benefit of the family. However, you should excuse him if he took some of your jewelry, because he may be suffering from a financial crisis that forces him to sell some of what he owns or what is accessible to him inside the house, and he may bring it back to you after overcoming this crisis.
And Allaah knows best.
· Interference of the wife's family affects the life of spouses
The problem:
I married one of my female relatives. After two years of our marriage, her family started interfering in our life and caused many problems. This was followed by a calm period and then things worsened. Allaah The Almighty provided us with a child while I was absent. When I went to her father to get her back, he accepted, but I found that my wise wife has changed greatly because of her family.
I left her in her father's house for more than a year in the hope that she would regain her senses and I made some attempts to get her back but I failed. Now, I believe it is better for me to divorce her. However, when I wanted to send her the divorce document, I was asked to bring the marriage contract, which was not registered officially and was lost two years ago. I am perplexed and do not know what to do?
The answer:
We advise you to try again to reconcile with your wife and ask some mediators to help you in this respect. However, if you have lost all hope and see that separation is inevitable, then there is no harm and you do not need the marriage contract. You are just required to tell her family that their daughter is divorced and then they are free to marry her off to whoever they want. Nevertheless, it is better for you to document the divorce in the Sharee'ah-based court and then send your wife's family the divorce document. As for the lost marriage contract, you can go to the nearest court to ask for a new marriage document and bring some witnesses with you.
And Allaah knows best.
· Should I ask my husband to provide me with a separate house
The problem:
My brother-in-law wants to marry and live with us, knowing that I never uncover my face before him, sit with him, or even look at him. He has already married and I want to ask my husband to provide me with a separate house due to the difficulty that I will suffer as a result of this situation. Does this mean that I am sowing dissension between the two brothers? Is this request lawful, knowing that my husband sees that it is better for both of them to live in separate houses?
However, my mother-in-law, who lives with us, wants them to live together.
The answer:
If you adhere to your full Hijaab (Islamic covering) and avoid the prohibited private meeting, then it is better to remain together to please the mother of your husband.
However, if this is not the case, i.e., if one of the two wives does not adhere to the full Hijaab or avoid the prohibited private meeting with her brother-in-law, then it is better for you to live in a separate house. Living in a separate house is also better if one of the two brothers is not righteous or cannot be trusted to remain with his brother's wife in the same house. For example, he may harass her, look at her while unawares or enter upon her without permission, and the like.
If this is the case, we advise you to ask your husband to provide you with a separate house to avoid hardship and discomfort.
· She deserted her husband because of hair oil
The problem:
My wife started using hair oil that she believes prevents the loss of hair. However, the smell of this oil is disgusting and I asked her not to use it because I do not like its smell.
I told her that if it was necessary for her to use something to prevent hair loss, she may use another oil or shampoo with an acceptable smell. My wife got angry and considered this request as something that hurt her. Hence, she abandoned me in bed and sleeps in another room. Please advise me. May Allaah reward you.
The answer:
The wife must obey her husband in whatever involves benefit for him as long as it does not cause her harm. In addition, she should adorn herself in such a way that increases mutual love and cordiality between them. She should remove any disgusting smell or unclean clothing. It is also prohibited for her to refrain from allowing her husband to have sexual intercourse with her whenever he wants as long as there is no harm in this for her. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, warned the woman who refrains from responding to her husband when he calls her to his bed and he sleeps while he is angry with her.
Finally, we advise the two spouses to try to increase mutual love by every possible means.
And Allaah knows best.
Common family problems and solutions - I
Monday, December 27, 2010
Germany: President urges respect for minorities
Germany: President urges respect for minorities German President Christian Wulff urged Germans to respect minorities Friday in a Christmas message that picked up on his earlier, controversial call for an inclusive attitude to Islam. |
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Terrorists linked to Islam4UK, radicalized in prison
UK: Terrorists linked to Islam4UK, radicalized in prison
|
Yusuf Islam announces European tour
EU: Yusuf Islam announces European tour Yusuf Islam, the former Cat Stevens, will embark on his first European tour since playing the continent in 1976. |
Friday, December 24, 2010
Switzerland: Ramadan calls Muslims to join political life
Switzerland: Ramadan calls Muslims to join political life
|
Contrary to whatever you may believe, Hijaab (Islamic covering) is not a free personal choice
Contrary to whatever you may believe, Hijaab (Islamic covering) is not a free personal choice. As a Muslim woman, you are not free; you are a slave of Allaah The Almighty. What is the relationship between freedom and uncovering parts of your body, adorning yourself, and uncovering your face? Does the belief that 'beauty of the soul is the real beauty' entitle a woman to be indecently dressed?
The enemies of Islam have turned women into a cheap commodity; they despise you; they do not respect your mind, thought or character; they are only concerned about your body. Otherwise, let me know: What is the rationale behind an attractive woman appearing on an advertisement for razors or tires? Does this show respect for a woman’s mind? Or does this point to the fact that the media and marketing industry only think about exploiting her body? Why do they not let women who are covered inHijaab be shown in their ads?
If you could listen to what your colleagues in the university or work say about you behind your back, you would be horrified. They speak about your looks. They do not care for your intelligence or personality; they are only concerned about your femininity. This is the nature of man, and whoever claims otherwise is either a liar or abnormal.
Wearing Hijaab is not a free personal choice, and you are certainly not free to do as you think fit; you are a slave of Allaah The Almighty. You have no right to disobey His orders. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind." He will say, "My Lord, why have You raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?" [Allaah] will say, "Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten." And thus do We recompense he who transgressed and did not believe in the signs of his Lord. And the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more enduring.} [Quran 20:124-127]
Hijaab is not a free personal choice because it is the command of Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger 
, and the consensus of the Muslim scholars. Furthermore, Hijaab gives you the chance to test the truthfulness of those who claim that they are only concerned with your mind and character. If the case is true as they claim, wearing Hijaab will help them focus on your character, not your make-up, clothes, or charms. At this point you will discover the truth, and you will not find any man paying you attention or speaking to you because they do not need anything from you except your femininity.
It is shameful that a woman who pretends to respect herself and cherish her honor and dignity seeks to impress people with her body. Surely, you humiliate your humanity by failing to adhere to correct Hijaab and by showing off your face in place.
An American woman says that she got fed up with such widespread corruption in her society, where a woman is judged only according to her appearance, and this greatly influences her field of work, promotions, and the opportunities of practical and emotional life. She adds that a woman has to always appear beautiful and attractive in order to attain easy success in every stage of her life.
This woman converted to three religions that could not soothe her agony. Now she adheres to a sect of Judaism because she admires the fact that this sect obliges women to dress modestly and admonishes them not to intermix with men except in case of necessity.
Another American woman says that she has embraced one of the old pagan religions of the Native Americans because that religion pays special respect to women, orders them to wear decent clothes and prohibits extramarital and premarital relationships. She adds that she feels that this religion respects women and protects values in society.
A practicing Muslim woman relates that she had been fully covered inHijaab when she was obliged to travel to a European country with her family to receive medical care for her father. In the hospital, a nurse asked her permission to see her face, and when the nurse saw it, she was shocked. She thought that the woman covered her face because she was ugly or had a defect. When the nurse asked the woman why she was covering up, the woman explained to her that Islam sees women as a jewel that must be kept away from the eyes of strangers. The woman said that the nurse was listening attentively, and later, she said, "How wonderful! I wish I could cover myself up like you. I suffer a lot from people's looks at the details of my body and feel that I am a dummy; even here I feel that all people are staring at me."
Professor Sigrid Hunke, author of the famous book Allah's Sun Rises over the West , outlines the glory of the Arabs and Muslims and the influence of their civilization on the Western renaissance. In an Islamic conference, she was asked to give advice to a Muslim woman who wanted to discard her Hijaab. She said,
"A Muslim woman should not take the European or American women as role models. By doing so, she loses the elements of her character. Thus, she has to abide by the original guidance of Islam and follow in the footsteps of the early righteous women. She should cherish their values and adapt them to the needs of modern times. She should also focus on her significant mission of being a mother of the future Arab generation."
Helen Stanberry, an American writer and a freelance journalist for more than 250 American newspapers, publishes a daily article read by millions of Americans. She spent several weeks in an Arab country, and when she returned home, she said that the Arab society is perfect and sound, and it should adhere to its customs which limit the freedom of young women and men reasonably. She adds that the Arabs have inherited manners which necessitate limiting the freedom of the woman, respecting the mother and father, and, more than that, eliminating the immorality of the West which is destroying the society and families in Europe and America. She advises the Arabs to continue preventing the free intermixing between the two sexes, narrow the freedom of the girl, and adhere to Hijaab like the earlier generations did. This would be better for the Arabs than immorality, liberty and the profligacy of Europe and America.
Anger with this inferior look at women was condemned in the words of Meryl Streep, an American actress, and the 1983 Academy Award winner. In a press conference, she said that every time she visited a public place, people would scrutinize the measurements of her body to make sure that she was a beautiful and worthy of being the best American actress. This disturbed her a lot because she knew that people looked at her only to judge her body. .
She contested the so-called Women's Liberation Movement, saying that she does not like the present-day concepts about women because they view the ideal woman to be the one who has a slim body. [Excerpted from the book "Risaalah Ila Hawaa' by Rasheed Al-‘OOwayid]
A woman so fond of the Abaya that she wears it at home
A Korean girl wrote on the internet, “I love your dress…yes…I love this Abaya which fully covers the body. I love it so much and love to wear it. I asked my cousin, who works in the Gulf region to send me one. Once it was sent to me, I wore it immediately. Although many people mocked me and were surprised at my appearance, I still wear it from time to time and sometimes at home. I feel greatly comfortable and content when wearing it.”
At a time when women all over the world are searching for their identity by returning to decency and covering up, many Muslim women are trying to find ways and justifications to say that Hijaab is not a religious obligation, or that the essence is more important than appearances.
Muslim sister, do not sacrifice the everlasting life in the Hereafter; do not risk it. You cannot do that. It is either everlasting bliss or everlasting doom. Many women before you followed the way of liberation and pride, but they reaped loss, failure, depression and misery. What will you lose if you put on Hijaab? What will you lose if you cover your hair, arms and legs? Please, answer: What loss will you incur? What has your friend who puts on Hijaab lost? Do not expose yourself to the anger of Allaah The Almighty; otherwise, you live in suffering, misery and pain. You have to put on Hijaab and quit the futile argument. Just put it on. You are not wiser than the women who wore it, nor are you more beautiful or smarter than they are. You may ask them about it. O slave of Allaah, The Compeller, return to your Lord, submit and surrender to Him; beware of the anger of Allaah The Sovereign. Hijaab is not a free, personal choice and you are not free. Islam has its rules and principles, so whoever claims to adhere to it is not allowed to violate its rules. Whoever accepts Islam as a religion should submit to its orders and avoid its prohibitions. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer, We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.} [Quran 16:97]
http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=163379
Contrary to whatever you may believe, Hijaab (Islamic covering) is not a free personal choice
Contrary to whatever you may believe, Hijaab (Islamic covering) is not a free personal choice. As a Muslim woman, you are not free; you are a slave of Allaah The Almighty. What is the relationship between freedom and uncovering parts of your body, adorning yourself, and uncovering your face? Does the belief that 'beauty of the soul is the real beauty' entitle a woman to be indecently dressed?
The enemies of Islam have turned women into a cheap commodity; they despise you; they do not respect your mind, thought or character; they are only concerned about your body. Otherwise, let me know: What is the rationale behind an attractive woman appearing on an advertisement for razors or tires? Does this show respect for a woman’s mind? Or does this point to the fact that the media and marketing industry only think about exploiting her body? Why do they not let women who are covered inHijaab be shown in their ads?
If you could listen to what your colleagues in the university or work say about you behind your back, you would be horrified. They speak about your looks. They do not care for your intelligence or personality; they are only concerned about your femininity. This is the nature of man, and whoever claims otherwise is either a liar or abnormal.
Wearing Hijaab is not a free personal choice, and you are certainly not free to do as you think fit; you are a slave of Allaah The Almighty. You have no right to disobey His orders. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind." He will say, "My Lord, why have You raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?" [Allaah] will say, "Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten." And thus do We recompense he who transgressed and did not believe in the signs of his Lord. And the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more enduring.} [Quran 20:124-127]
Hijaab is not a free personal choice because it is the command of Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger , and the consensus of the Muslim scholars. Furthermore, Hijaab gives you the chance to test the truthfulness of those who claim that they are only concerned with your mind and character. If the case is true as they claim, wearing Hijaab will help them focus on your character, not your make-up, clothes, or charms. At this point you will discover the truth, and you will not find any man paying you attention or speaking to you because they do not need anything from you except your femininity.
It is shameful that a woman who pretends to respect herself and cherish her honor and dignity seeks to impress people with her body. Surely, you humiliate your humanity by failing to adhere to correct Hijaab and by showing off your face in place.
An American woman says that she got fed up with such widespread corruption in her society, where a woman is judged only according to her appearance, and this greatly influences her field of work, promotions, and the opportunities of practical and emotional life. She adds that a woman has to always appear beautiful and attractive in order to attain easy success in every stage of her life.
This woman converted to three religions that could not soothe her agony. Now she adheres to a sect of Judaism because she admires the fact that this sect obliges women to dress modestly and admonishes them not to intermix with men except in case of necessity.
Another American woman says that she has embraced one of the old pagan religions of the Native Americans because that religion pays special respect to women, orders them to wear decent clothes and prohibits extramarital and premarital relationships. She adds that she feels that this religion respects women and protects values in society.
A practicing Muslim woman relates that she had been fully covered inHijaab when she was obliged to travel to a European country with her family to receive medical care for her father. In the hospital, a nurse asked her permission to see her face, and when the nurse saw it, she was shocked. She thought that the woman covered her face because she was ugly or had a defect. When the nurse asked the woman why she was covering up, the woman explained to her that Islam sees women as a jewel that must be kept away from the eyes of strangers. The woman said that the nurse was listening attentively, and later, she said, "How wonderful! I wish I could cover myself up like you. I suffer a lot from people's looks at the details of my body and feel that I am a dummy; even here I feel that all people are staring at me."
Professor Sigrid Hunke, author of the famous book Allah's Sun Rises over the West , outlines the glory of the Arabs and Muslims and the influence of their civilization on the Western renaissance. In an Islamic conference, she was asked to give advice to a Muslim woman who wanted to discard her Hijaab. She said,
"A Muslim woman should not take the European or American women as role models. By doing so, she loses the elements of her character. Thus, she has to abide by the original guidance of Islam and follow in the footsteps of the early righteous women. She should cherish their values and adapt them to the needs of modern times. She should also focus on her significant mission of being a mother of the future Arab generation."
Helen Stanberry, an American writer and a freelance journalist for more than 250 American newspapers, publishes a daily article read by millions of Americans. She spent several weeks in an Arab country, and when she returned home, she said that the Arab society is perfect and sound, and it should adhere to its customs which limit the freedom of young women and men reasonably. She adds that the Arabs have inherited manners which necessitate limiting the freedom of the woman, respecting the mother and father, and, more than that, eliminating the immorality of the West which is destroying the society and families in Europe and America. She advises the Arabs to continue preventing the free intermixing between the two sexes, narrow the freedom of the girl, and adhere to Hijaab like the earlier generations did. This would be better for the Arabs than immorality, liberty and the profligacy of Europe and America.
Anger with this inferior look at women was condemned in the words of Meryl Streep, an American actress, and the 1983 Academy Award winner. In a press conference, she said that every time she visited a public place, people would scrutinize the measurements of her body to make sure that she was a beautiful and worthy of being the best American actress. This disturbed her a lot because she knew that people looked at her only to judge her body. .
She contested the so-called Women's Liberation Movement, saying that she does not like the present-day concepts about women because they view the ideal woman to be the one who has a slim body. [Excerpted from the book "Risaalah Ila Hawaa' by Rasheed Al-‘OOwayid]
A woman so fond of the Abaya that she wears it at home
A Korean girl wrote on the internet, “I love your dress…yes…I love this Abaya which fully covers the body. I love it so much and love to wear it. I asked my cousin, who works in the Gulf region to send me one. Once it was sent to me, I wore it immediately. Although many people mocked me and were surprised at my appearance, I still wear it from time to time and sometimes at home. I feel greatly comfortable and content when wearing it.”
At a time when women all over the world are searching for their identity by returning to decency and covering up, many Muslim women are trying to find ways and justifications to say that Hijaab is not a religious obligation, or that the essence is more important than appearances.
Muslim sister, do not sacrifice the everlasting life in the Hereafter; do not risk it. You cannot do that. It is either everlasting bliss or everlasting doom. Many women before you followed the way of liberation and pride, but they reaped loss, failure, depression and misery. What will you lose if you put on Hijaab? What will you lose if you cover your hair, arms and legs? Please, answer: What loss will you incur? What has your friend who puts on Hijaab lost? Do not expose yourself to the anger of Allaah The Almighty; otherwise, you live in suffering, misery and pain. You have to put on Hijaab and quit the futile argument. Just put it on. You are not wiser than the women who wore it, nor are you more beautiful or smarter than they are. You may ask them about it. O slave of Allaah, The Compeller, return to your Lord, submit and surrender to Him; beware of the anger of Allaah The Sovereign. Hijaab is not a free, personal choice and you are not free. Islam has its rules and principles, so whoever claims to adhere to it is not allowed to violate its rules. Whoever accepts Islam as a religion should submit to its orders and avoid its prohibitions. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer, We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.} [Quran 16:97]
http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=articles&id=163379