Women, Modesty and Hijab - Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad

This was such a wonderfully informative interview.  I think ALL women of faith, not just Muslims, can benefit from it because God gave the same commandments for all of us regarding modesty.  You can watch the interview in it's entirety above. Below are a few things that really stood out to me...

What is hijab and how should it affect us on an inner and outer level?

- What we do on outward DOES have an impact on within.

- Beauty was created for us to admire BUT only certain people have that right to gaze.

- Sacred things are set apart with barriers and treated with dignity.  For example, the Holy of Holies is always covered by a veil as an expression of it's holiness/sacredness.

For Muslim women living and working in the West, how do you suggest we can ensure that we are growing spiritually, whilst being surrounded by materialism and often being tempted by it?

- We don't recognize the good life but rather the managed pursuit of pleasures.

- Focus on the five daily prayers.  Keeps you grounded because it takes precedent over everything else.

What advice would you give to sisters (reverts and non-reverts) who are finding it difficult to start wearing hijab?

- Modesty is innate.

- Many find it difficult but religion itself is hard and a struggle.  Following God offers us paradise but the price is high and we have to make that sacrifice.

What methods can one use to increase one's iman?  Many people nowadays suffer from having severe "dips" in their faith, and become very distressed upon realizing this.  Could you suggest some methods that might help to rectify this type of spiritual crisis?

- Remember that God is ALWAYS near.

- Experience the world as a gift and always see it's beauty.  To know the percentage of you imam , look at the percentage of people you see beauty in.  Seeing beauty is seeing God's intentions in that person.

- Truly fall in love with God and we will see His majesty/beauty.

- Train your hearts to see God.  If you've seen the moon, you're not going to argue rather it exists or not.

*This was my favorite portion of the interview.  It begins at 27:14 if you're interested in watching it.  Such great practical advice to apply to everything, not just hijab.*

Do you have any tips for sisters to maintain the correct intentions when wearing hijab, when it's always criticized in some way or another by both Muslims and non-Muslims? 

- Too much concern of the opinion of others is human but it's not the religious way.

- Simply respond with: "Thank you, brother/sister.  We all have so much to learn."  It's better to "play dumb" than cause a dispute, especially with a fellow believer.  HUMILITY.

When thoughts of taking off her hijab come to a sister, what can she do?

- Islam is based on the beauty of God's law.  It is not important for us to do what we want but rather conform to what God has commanded us to do.

- God has given us Shariah with LOTS of details so there's never any question.  Following it gives us the opportunity to turn away from our ego and towards the Spirit.  

- See hijab as a spiritual method and a way of re-centering ourselves in a crazy world.  Once we see it this way, we won't even have the desire to take it off.

- Need to see Shariah as mercy keeping us away from our own rubbish.  Also if we see the beauty of Islam through someone who is really living it, we will begin to see Shariah as not just a bunch of rules.

- Keeping company of the best people you can find is CRUCIAL.

Tuesday Tunes: Warrior // Worrier

Outlandish is a hip-hop group based in Denmark.  Isam (Moroccan descent) and Waqas (Pakastani descent) are Muslim and Lenny (Cuban/Honduran descent) is Catholic.  They released their first album, Outland's Official in 2001 and their most recent album, Warrior // Worrier was released this year.

Gypsy Cab
Warrior // Worrier
Barrio
Sky Is Ours
Better Days
The Start
Ready To Love
Breathin' Under Water
A Mind Full Of Whispers
Into The Night
Gangsta Like Crazy
Dreamin' & Streamin'
TriumF

I was a little late finding out about this new album with them not being too popular here in the states.  In almost perfect timing, though, I discovered it right as Ramadan ended and I've been listening to it almost nonstop since then.  Gypsy Cab is definitely my favorite on the album and quickly becoming my favorite Outlandish song of all time.  There's a part of the song where they combine "Hallelujah" and "Alhumdulillah" and it made my heart melt.  Below are more of my favorite lyrics from the album...

Gypsy Cab 

“Say Hallelujah. Say Al halla lu li lah. Praise be at whoever your hearts is at, whether that be Allah or Jesus Christ.” 

“Maybe she lies ‘cause she'd prefer a broken neck instead of a broken heart.” 

Warrior // Worrier 

“Do whatever you love and you'll be free. If you can't buy happiness, try to lease.” “For what is worth you're my warrior and I'm your warrior.” 

“Goodness is bigger than us. You can't see it ‘cause it is silent but it's feeding this world.” 

“What you call a problem, I just call them lessons of love.” 

“God never promised you days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain. But he did promise strength for you every day.” 

“Everybody's in love when things are going well.” 

 Barrio 

“Whenever it rains, an angel cries. Makes me sad to see tears from the sky.” 

Sky Is Ours 

“They can have this Earth, this pile of dirt. But the sky is ours.” 

Better Days 

“Maniacs will you sit while geniuses drive your cabs? Dead end jobs that might leave you dead at the job. Oh, a place where you can third world in the first world.” “Poverty is like love, makes you do some crazy things.” 

The Start 

“Where a heart skips a beat no DJ could ever drop.” 

“In a heart where's there true love, there's no doubt. When it's love you'll know. It's from the start, from the start.” 

Ready To Love 

“We got one life to love each other. One life, one love. Protecting and be there for one another. We're worthless if we keep on fighting ‘cause together we can face the night if we're ready to love.” 

“It ain't enough that we are at war with nature. We want more more more than our 40 acres.” 

Breathin’ Under Water 

“Did I die for nothing instead of living for something?” 

“Maybe you know the difference. What's between just being alive and just living?” 

“I'm a P I M P. Preaching in my poetry.” 

“Can't buy happiness, at least I can lease it. I'm not being facetious when I say I need Jesus. How can we follow leaders when we have such hallow leaders?” 

“I got millions of ancestors deep in the Atlantic from where the slave traders came. And they still speaking through my vein, so when I'm speaking underwater.” 

A Mind Full of Whispers 

“A mind full of whispers, my heart full of scripture. Music is my frame and words play the picture.” 

Gangsta Like Crazy 

“Arab men are radical terrorists. Immigrants all play and must be sent away, period. Black men are criminals. Veiled women are oppressed. White men are racists. And free speech is irrelevant. If you believe in any of these statements, you are an idiot. I repeat, an idiot. I don't know who knocked the Twin Towers down, but in different times I wonder if a bomb falls in the desert will it make a sound?” 

TriumF 

“Put down the gun, pick up my pen. The ink of one worth more than men.”

I'll end with the official video for their single Warrior // Worrier.  Let me know what you think of the video and the album in general.  Is this your first time hearing of them?  If you were already a fan, how does this album compare to the others?

People need to believe in TWLOHA.

This was posted on PostSecret this week.  I know this is a really sensitive subject so I'm going to attempt to tread lightly.

This was brought to my attention by a former member of the TWLOHA community on Sunday.  I had so many emotions.  I was partly sad that this happened to someone  and partly comforted in knowing I wasn't alone and partly just frustrated and confused by the entire situation.  I discussed it with other TWLOHA friends but I never had any intention of posting anything publicly until tonight when I read TWLOHA's response.

I'm very disappointed with the way TWLOHA chose to handle this.  I believe it's pretty apparent to everyone that this was sent in about their organization.  They were given the perfect opportunity through their blog to address this in the form of an apology.  There should have been some sort of dialogue where they at least acknowledged that someone (whether warranted or not) felt wronged by their organization.  Instead they chose to protect their image by pretending this was never even about them.

I've vaguely mentioned here before about me no longer supporting TWLOHA but I never went into much detail about what happened.  I'm still not going to do that for several reasons; mainly because I've closed that chapter of my life and don't want to bring up all of those feelings again.  But also because I sincerely want people to still believe in TWLOHA's message.  I know that seems bizarre considering everything I've said in this post, but please continue to hear me out...

TWLOHA saved my life.  Many moons ago, Renee's story made me believe that rescue was possible and gave me the hope I'd so desperately searched for.  Shortly after that I began interning for them and met a wonderful group of girls that became my sisters.  Despite everything that transpired after that, I wouldn't take that experience back for anything.

There are so many people out there that were saved by this story.  There are still so many people out there that need to hear it.  TWLOHA started asking questions that everyone was afraid to tackle.  They have almost single-handedly broken the stigma associated with depression and suicide so that thousands of people are not receiving the help they need.  I, for one, am one of those people.

As this postcard makes evident, I was not the only one hurt by this organization.  I have also personally spoken with a few other people who had similar experiences, as well.  BUT.  Once upon a time, this organization saved my life and for that I am eternally grateful.  

It would be great if some honest conversations can begin to take place between TWLOHA and former staff/interns/whatever.  But, I don't think a public domain is the place for this.  People need to believe in TWLOHA and I never want to take that away from them.

This will (hopefully) be the last thing I ever write about this organization.