Descriptions of the Ummah of Ahmad

The term Ummah is defined as:

Majmoo'aat bashariyyah tarbituhaa 'aqeedatun waahidah
A group of people who are bonded together by the same 'aqeedah (belief). 

Therefore, the term "ummah" does not refer to people who share the same race or colour; it only refers to people who are unified in their beliefs or way of life. As a result, it is not fitting for the term to be translated as "nation", since a nation is a large group of people who inhabit a particular area or state. (An ummah can exist without a state).

Allah (SWT) has categorized mankind into two:
1.      Al-Ummat ul-Islaamiyyah (the worldwide Islamic community)
2.      Al-Ummat ul-Kaafirah (the worldwide unbelieving community)

Hence, there are only two camps; every person is either a Muslim or a Kaafir. The Jews, Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists and so forth are all from al-Ummat ul-Kaafirah; in other words, they are all disbelievers in the sight of Allah. The Almighty says: 
He it is Who created you, then some of you are disbelievers and some of you are believers. And Allah is All-Seer of what you do. (at-Taghaabun, 64:2)

What makes you a Mushrik?

I‘lm ut-Tawheed (knowledge of Tawheed) is the noblest of sciences in I’lm ud-Deen (sciences of the Deen), and knowledge of its, pillars, conditions and negations is the noblest of deeds. For this reason we find that Imam Abu Hanifah called his collection of studies in Usul ud-Deen (Tawheed, Wala and Bara, Izhaar ud-Deen) ‘Al-Fiqh ul-Akbar’ (The greatest fiqh).

The knowledge of Tawheed will lead us to study the topic of what makes you a Mushrik i.e. what negates Tawheed? This too is a vital topic as most Muslims know what is required of a person to be Muslim, but not what can make you a kafir, hence they commit that which makes a person kafir. We need to study this in order for us not anger Allah by committing that which negates our Tawheed.

A question that often arises is: Can a person become kafir without to know and what is the evidence for this? The answer is yes. Allah could test us from time to time with kufr in order to shake us and make us firm. Those who cannot pass the tests of Allah will fail and will fall into kufr and shirk, hence eventually become a Mushrik. The evidences for this are below:

Allah says in the Qur’an:

‘…O Allah make this city (Makkah) aamina (peaceful) and save me and my children from worshipping the idols…’(Surah Ibraheem, 14: 35)

In this verse Ibraheem (as) made du’a to Allah to protect him and his children from becoming Mushrik by committing shirk. We must also not forget the fact that the children of Ibraheem (as) were Isma’eel and Is-haaq, who were all Prophets. If the prophets were afraid of being Mushrik and committing shirk, then should not we be too?

At-Takabbur...

Shaytan is the biggest mutakabbir. Because Allah said: “And when We said unto the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam, they fell prostrate, all save Iblis. He demurred through Takabbur, and so became a disbeliever.” [2: 34]

At Takabbur is rejection of the Haqq, and neglecting it/throwing it away …

-          To look down to the people

-          Belittling them

The Shari’ah does not differ in its meaning of At Takabbur with the linguistic meaning.

Abdullah Ibn Mas’oud narrated
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “He will never enter paradise, the one who has one atom of Takabbur.” [Hadith Saheeh Muslim]

On this hadith, a man asked the prophet (pbuh) asked: “O rasulullah, if a man likes to have good clothes and good shoes, is this arrogance?” the prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah is Jameel, (he is good and likes everyone to be Jamal (good)) and likes to see everything Jamal (good), Arrogance is Batrul Haq (to reject the truth) and look down at the people (and belittling them).”

HAQQ
-          Haqq is knowing the difference between halal and haram

-          It is the rights

-          It is the Truth

When you have At Takabbur is like not caring, If Allah were to always speak to us directly, we would be Terrified. However today we don’t treat the Qur’an as if it is his word addressing us. But we must begin do so, because we must worship Allah as if we see him, and if we do not see him, he sees us.

O Donkeys and Dogs, Evil is Evil !!!

Allah (swt) compared the people who have access to the Ilm but abuse it by not implementing it properly "Himaar" (donkeys) and in another verse they were referred to as Kilaab (dogs). 
The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Taurāt (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). How bad is the example (or the likeness) of people who deny the Ayāt (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allāh. And Allāh guides not the people who are Zālimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers, etc.). [62:5] 

And recite (O Muhammad SAW) to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Ayāt (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), but he threw them away, so Shaitān (Satan) followed him up, and he became of those who went astray. And had We willed, We would surely have elevated him therewith but he clung to the earth and followed his own vain desire. So his description is the description of a dog: if you drive him away, he lolls his tongue out, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls his tongue out. Such is the description of the people who reject Our Ayāt (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). So relate the stories, perhaps they may reflect. [7:175-176] 

So we say to these beasts who say it is Fard to vote for man-made law:

Being True with Allah...

By the martyred Imam Abdullah Azzam (rahimahUllah) 
“…the biggest problem facing Islam today is the lack of the sincere and truthful amongst those who are working for Allah, except for those few hidden, pious, and pure people who were made for leading nations, and were made for navigating the ship…”

Verily, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek refuge with Him, and seek His Forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of our souls, and the mistakes in our actions. Whoever Allah Guides, there is none who can misguide him, and whoever Allah misguides, there is none who can guide him. And I testify that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is his servant and Messenger. 

{“O you who believe! Have taqwa of Allah as He deserves, and do not die except as Muslims.”}2

{“O people! Have taqwa of your Lord, Who Created you from a single soul, and Created from it its mate, and sprouted from it many men and women. And have taqwa of Allah, from Whom you demand your mutual rights, and do not cut off the relations of the womb. Verily, Allah is Ever-Watching over you.”}3

{“O you who believe! Have taqwa of Allah, and say that which is truthful. He will rectify your actions for you and Forgive you your sins, and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed achieved a great success.”}4 

O you who are pleased with Allah as a Lord, and Islam as a religion, and Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a Prophet and Messenger! Know that Allah has revealed in the clear cut Revelation: 
{“O you who believe! Have taqwa of Allah, and be with the truthful!”}5 

The truthfulness that this verse of ‘at-Tawbah’ is referring to is that of having your affairs be in accordance with their reality and true state, or having one’s inner state be just like his outer state, or having one’s hidden characteristics be just like one’s outer characteristics. So, if you were to open up the chest of the truthful person and Allah were to grant you the ability to peek into his heart, you would not find there to be any difference between his open, apparent profile and his concealed, secret condition.6
And this is the situation of the truthful.

Paradise has a price!!!

The Muslim (submitter) should never make Jannah (paradise) his only goal in life. Verily, the consequence of doing such an action will result in individuals no longer being concerned with whether or not their Lord is pleased with them. Instead, they will always be concerned with and dream about entering paradise rather than thinking about if they are really eligible for it or not, and what they have done to deserve it.

The only ghaayah (aim and target) of a Muslim should be to seek the pleasure of Allah, whilst hoping to be rewarded by his Lord (with paradise) for doing so. Thus, paradise is not the sole objective in his life; rather it is seeking the pleasure of Allah.

However, this paradise which we are speaking of requires a huge amount of sacrifice and willpower, and this was confirmed by the Messenger Muhammad (saws) who said in a famous hadeeth:

"When Allah created paradise and hell, he sent Jibreel to paradise, saying: 'Go and look at it and the things I have prepared therein for its inhabitants.' So he went and looked at it and at what Allah had prepared therein for its inhabitants. He then came back and said: 'By your glory, whosoever will hear of it will long to enter it.' So he ordered that it be surrounded by forms of hardship, and said to Jibreel: 'Go back and look at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants.' So he went back and found that it was surrounded by forms of hardship. Then he came back and said: 'By your glory, I fear that no-one will enter it.'

Then he sent him to the fire of hell saying, 'Go and look at it and what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants.' So he looked at it and saw that it was in layers, one above the other. Then he came back and said: 'By your glory, whoever hears of it will never try to enter it.' So he ordered that it be surrounded by passions and desires, and said: 'Go and see what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants.' So he went and looked at it, then came back and said, 'by your glory, I fear that no-one will escape from entering it.'" (Muslim, Abu Daawood and Imaam Ahmad)

Celebrating Valentine's Day?!? You Judge!!!

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad (saws) and upon all his family and companions. Allah has chosen for us Islam as our religion and He will not accept any other religion from anyone, as He says:
“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers" [Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]

And the Prophet (saws) told us that groups of his ummah would follow the enemies of Allah in some of their rituals and customs, as it says in the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (ra), who narrated that the Prophet (saws) said: “You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you, span by span, cubit by cubit, until even if they were to enter a lizard’s hole, you would follow them.” We said, “O Messenger of Allah, (do you mean) the Jews and Christians?” He said, “Who else? !” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari in al-I’tisaam bi’l-Kitaab wa’l-Sunnah, Baab Qawl al-Nabi La tattabi’unna Sanan man kaana qablakum, 8/151; and by Muslim in Kitaab al-‘Ilm, Baab Ittibaa’ Sanan al-Yahood wa’l-Nasaara, 4/ 2054)

What the Prophet (saws) spoke of has indeed come to pass and has become widespread in recent times, in many of the Muslim countries. Many of the Muslims follow the enemies of Allah in many of their customs and ways of behaving, and imitate them in some of their rituals and in celebrating their holidays. The matter has been made even worse by the opening up of mass communications between peoples, whereby the rituals and customs of the kuffaar are now transmitted with the glamorous adornment of sound and image from their countries into the Muslim countries, via satellite TV and the World Wide Web (Internet). Many Muslims have been deceived by their glamour.

In recent years, a new phenomenon has spread among the Muslim youth – males and females alike – which does not bode well. This is manifested in their imitation of the Christians in their celebration of the Valentine’s Day, which has led the scholars and daa’iyahs to explain the rulings of sharee’ah concerning that, out of sincerity towards Allah, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk, so that Muslims may have a clear understanding of this issue and so that they will not fall into that which will undermine the belief (‘aqeedah) with which Allah has blessed them. This is a brief discussion of the origins, development and purpose of this holiday, and what the Muslim should do with regard to it.

The story of the Festival of Love (Valentine’s Day):

More on Murjiah, their roots and their beliefs...

What and whom are the Murjiah, From the linguistic view; Murji'ah comes from Irjaa' which was mentioned in the Holy Qur'an as in the following verse:
"You have a hope from Allah that for which they hope not" [4:105].

This verse was explained by Imam Ibn Katheer as follows: "both you and the Kafireen will suffer, but you hope for the forgiveness of Allah, His victory and His support, as on the other hand the Kafireen do not hope for anything of that. Hence, you ought to be more forthcoming and more persistent towards Jehaad".

In another verse Allah says: "What is the matter with you, you hope not for reward from Allah or you believe not in His Oneness" [71:13].

Allah is asking us why we do not fear Him and believe in Him as being God Almighty and fear His punishment.

Also, in another verse Allah says: "They said put him and his brother off (for a while) and send callers to the cities" [7:111]. The theme needed in this verse is putting off.

Therefore, from the linguistic point of view and as mentioned in the above verses, the meaning of al-Murji'ah (this misguided faction) is putting off all deeds and actions and isolating these deeds from Faith. By this they have given hope for all ill-doers that their bad deeds are not in conflict with their Faith.

One of Al-Murji'ah's most prominent figure once said that their faith is as good as that of Gabriel, the Prophet (s.a.w), Abu Bakr and Omar. The conclusion as believed by Al-Murji'ah is that the deeds and the faith are not related whatsoever and that deed s have no effect on faith neither positively nor negatively.

The roots Of Al-Murji'ah

FATWA - Ruling by Other Than What Allah Revealed !!!

Six Points on the Fatwa of Ibn Katheer Concerning Ruling by Other Than What Allaah Revealed by Shaykh 'Abdulqaadir bin 'Abdul'azeez

The Fatwaa of Ibn Katheer:

“And in the Tafseer of His, the Most High’s statement:

Do they then seek the ruling of (the Days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgment than Allaah for a people who have firm Faith. [Al-Maa’idah, 50]

Ibn Katheer, may Allaah be merciful to him, said, ‘He, the Most High, objects to those who leave from under the ruling (Hukm) of Allaah, which encompasses all of what is good and which forbids evil, and goes to other than that, from the opinions and desires and terminologies, which are fabricated by men with no basis in the law (Sharee’ah) of Allaah. Such as the people of pre-Islamic days of Ignorance (Jaahiliyyah) who used to rule in accordance with the misguidance and ignorance, from which they would fabricate with their opinions and their desires.

And likewise, what the Tartars (Tataar) rule in, according to the kingdom-oriented politics that have been taken from their king, Genghis Khan , who fabricated for them ‘Al-Yaasiq’, which is a phrase that refers to a book assembled from rulings he took from several legislations from those of the Jews and the Christians and the Islamic religion (Millah) and other than them. And in it are also several rulings, which he took from his own views and desires. So it became a followed legislation amongst his descendants (lit. sons), which they put ahead of the ruling (Hukm) of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger .

10 steps to draw closer to Allah

1. Fulfilling obligatory duties and abstaining from prohibited matters

The Prophet (saws) has guided us. And Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted, has guided us how to draw near to Him. As He said According to Hadith Qudsi:
“Whoever draws near to Me among those drawn near by fulfilling what I have made obligatory on them….

You do not draw near to Allah except by fulfilling the obligatory duties which Allah has made obligatory on you; (that is) the obligatory duties from the obligatory duties (Faraid) such as Prayers, and Zakat (obligatory charity), and Hajj, and Fasting and being good to Parents and all these obligatory duties on you draw you near to Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted. And the faraid (obligatory duties) are the first things that draw you near to Allah. You do not reach the door of nearness nor do you reach to the presence of nearness except by fulfilling the obligatory duties. This is the first thing that draws you near to Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted, and you are in His Presence.

So the first thing we need to do is fulfill ALL of our obligatory duties and abstain from that which Allah and his messenger (saws) have forbidden us from.

2. Nawafil prayers (supererogatory prayers)

Allah says in Hadith Qudsi:
….and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (voluntary deeds) until I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My Protection, I will protect him..." [Bukhari]

Looking after Children

Imam al-Bukhari 
Al-Adab al-Mufrad - by Imam Al-Bukhari - - A code For Everyday Living: The Example of the Early Muslims
Imam al-Bukhari is world-renowned for his major work, “al Jami’ al Sahih” (”Sahih al Bukhari”), but he has also produced a number of other works, including “Al-Adab al-Mufrad”, here translated into English. This book is a compilation of Ahadith on Islamic morals and manners from various sources. 

V. Looking after children 
45. A child is a source of both honour and cowardice.

84. ‘A’isha said, “Abu Bakr said, ‘By Allah, there is no man on the face of the earth that I love better than ‘Umar.’ Then he went out and came back and said, ‘How did I swear, daughter?’ I told him what he had said. Then he said, ‘He is dearer to me although one’s child is closer (to one’s heart).’” 

85. Ibn Abi Nu’m said, “I was with Ibn ‘Umar when a man asked him about the blood of gnats. He asked, ‘Where are you from?’ ‘From the people of Iraq,’ he replied. He said, ‘Look at this man! He asks about the blood of gnats when they murdered the grandson of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace! I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘They are my sweet basil in this world.’” 

46. Carrying a child on one’s shoulders.

86. Al-Bara’ said, “I saw the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when al-Hasan was on his shoulder. He was saying, ‘O Allah, I love him, so love him.’” 

47. A child is a source of joy.

Ar-Riyaa...

Allah will account you for your final deed, hence it’s important to ensure that its purely for the sake of Allah. Al-Riyaa is the opposite of Ikhlaas. It’s been mentioned in many places including,
‘Those who do good deeds only to be seen (of men), And refuse Al-Mâ'ûn (small kindnesses e.g. salt, sugar, water, etc.).’ [Maoun: 6-8]

‘And the men on Al­A'râf (the wall) will call unto the men whom they would recognise by their marks, saying: "Of what benefit to you were your great numbers (and hoards of wealth), and your arrogance against Faith?" [7: 48]

It is very dangerous and one of the main attributes of the Munaafiq. It therefore must be understood much better.

Linguistic meaning of Ar-Riyaa:
It is derived from the word Raa’a – when someone pretends. It is close to the thing you see and what you want people to see. The difference is just one Hamza with Madd. A man is raa’a when he wants other people to see his deeds. Usually you do not want people to see your bad deeds, rather it’s only the good deeds.

Al-Mura’aat is showing off the good deeds.

Ra-a                 -  saw

Raa-a                – show off or target to be seen. Usually this is only for the good deeds.

Al-Ro-ya           –  this is the root of Ar-Riyaa whereas the word raa-a is the original root for them all

Ar-Riyaa            - showing off the good deeds

Al-Fusouq         - showing off the bad deeds.

Our Syria, cries in blood - WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT !!!

Starved, tortured then throttled: The true horror of how Assad’s soldiers execute rebel prisoners is revealed in new images.

• A second cache of photos of victims of torture has been released
• Taken by man tasked with 'recording deaths in custody' by Syrian regime
• Total of 55,000 photos which lawyers say are evidence of extreme torture

More photographs showing the maimed bodies of alleged victims of ‘systematic killings’ in Syrian prisons have been released today.  The second cache of photos paints an even clearer image of the horrendous conditions and gruesome torture in government-run jails in Syria.

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

Shocking: A second set of pictures from the 55,000 photograph dossier showing alleged victims of torture and systematic killings in government-run prisons in Syria has been released

Da'wah in the West

By the Noble Sheikh, Naasir bin Hamd al-Fahd 

All praise is due to Allah, and may Salaah and Salaam be upon the Messenger of Allah (saw), to proceed:
Know, my Muslim brother that from the principles of the religion of Islam is disbelieving in the Taaghout (anything which is worshipped, obeyed or followed other than Allah), and this is half of Tawheed; its other half being belief in Allah, as Allah the Most High says:

"Whoever disbelieves in the Taaghout and believes in Allah, then he has held unto the firm hand hold." (al-Baqarah, 2: 256) 

And He (swt) said:  "And we have sent in every people a Messenger saying worship Allah and steer clear of the Taaghout." (an-Nahl, 16: 36) 

And from disbelief in the Taaghout is: declaring (ones) disavowal from kufr and its people, and hating them, and having enmity towards them, as Allah the Most High says: "There has been a good example in Ibraaheem and those who were with him, when they said to their people: 'We are free from you and what you worship besides Allah, we have disbelieved in you, and enmity and hatred has begun between us and you until you believe in Allah alone.'" (al-Mumtahanah, 60: 4) 

Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said: "For Allah has ordered us to follow in the way of Ibraaheem and those who were with him, as they declared Baraa'ah (innocence, disavowal, disassociation) from the Mushrikeen (disbelievers) and what they worship besides Allah, and al-Khaleel (Ibraaheem) said: "I am free from what you worship, except the One who created me. Indeed He shall guide me," and having Baraa'ah is opposite of allegiance, and the foundation of Baraa'ah is hatred, and the foundation of allegiance is love, and this is because the reality of Tawheed is to not love except Allah, and to love what Allah loves, thus he doesn't love except for Allah, and does not hate except for Allah."

Murjiah Not Salafis!!!

A previous e-mail sent by Sheikh 'Ali at-Tamimi (may Allah hasten his release-AMEEN) regarding the Salafi cult...

as-Salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu:

al-Hamdulillah was-Salatu was-Salamu ala Rasulillah:

Over the past few years I have written in this forum on a few occasions in defense of the aqida of Ahl as-Sunna from the onslaught of this contemporary movement of Irja' that disguises itself as Salafiya. (Indeed, the fatwa by the Permanent Council last year against the book written by Murad Shukri refers to this group espousing Irja' as calling themselves the Salafis of Jordan.)

The "rabid" (in reference to the hadith of the 73 groups which describes the spreading of desires amongst them as a person bitten by a rabid dog penetrating every joint and vein.) followers of this group in the West - many of them not possessing either knowledge of Arabic or sharia sciences - have over the years claimed many things about me: from forging Sh Ibn Baz's signature to the Kuwaiti declaration (which I translated and read in the lecture entitled a Word of Advice to the Salafis of the UK) to more recently being an agent of the US government and an associate of Kabbani in fighting Ahl as-Sunna.

Many times brothers and sisters have contacted me asking me to defend myself and rebut these allegations. I would remind them that first of all none of us youth should defend himself as none of those involved - especially me - are of any importance to be a topic of discussion let alone to go about defending one's self. Secondly, that we should be people of the manhaj of Ahl as-Sunna.

This manhaj means that we defend the aqeeda as it is aqeeda and not because it is esposued by certain personalities.

Have a Clear-Cut Purpose in Life...

Allah says:
"And I created not the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me. I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of power, the Most Strong." [Quran 51:56-58]

Allah reminds us in the above Ayahs that we were created solely for the purpose of worshipping Him alone, in return for ALL the provisions and Blessings from Him, AND Eternal Bliss in The Hereafter. And He balances His Mercy, by reminding us that He is The Owner of All Power, He is Able to do everything, inclusive of being The Owner of the Day of Judgment when He will judge and decide man's fate depending upon his deeds and intentions.

Our ultimate goal is Paradise. To reach this goal, we need to find contentment with Our Lord, and the way of life He has commanded us to live. Being content with Allah means to have no complaints with whatever has been decreed for us, and submitting to Allah's will in obedience, with out questioning Him and His Commands. Being content with your Lord is the belief that He wants only good for His creation (mankind). Allah is also content with His servant who is content with his Lord- it is mutual, and we ask Allah for a heart and soul that is content and filled with tranquility.

Allah says:
"O tranquil soul! Come back to your Lord, well-pleased and well-pleasing! Enter then among My servants, And enter My Paradise!'' [Noble Quran 89:27-30]

Debate: a Secular "Muslim" AND a Muwahhid !!!

The secularist (or Kaafir) once said: "If you don’t like this country why are you still here!? Get out and go back to your own country!" 

The Muwahhid replied: "This is my country! Who on earth told you that we hate this country!? Dare us to hate any of Allah's creations (without a divine permit). Who created this land which we both stand on today? Was it not Almighty Allah (SWT)? We love this country and every other country in the world because they are all creations of Allah (SWT).

Our problem is not with the land, rather it is with the kufr (non-Islamic) law which is in complete contradiction with our tawheed in Allah (SWT), and the Almighty has ordered us to reject it and to make our utmost effort to eradicate it from the face of this earth.

Furthermore, why should we leave!? We are more than capable of fulfilling our Islamic duties here. You are the ones who should leave as you are not able to maintain your tawheed and walaa' and baraa' (alliance with the believers and disassociation from the disbelievers). In Islam it is well known that if you cannot fulfil your duties in any country or land you are obliged to make hijrah (migration). Therefore you are the ones who should leave." 

The secularist said: "BUT…" 

The Muwahhid said: "No! Wait…I've not finished yet!" 

The secularist said: "OK, go on, sorry about that…"

Hijaab in the Modern World

The Western woman believes that she has the freedom to do what she wants. She expects it considering it has taken so long for her as a woman to gain the right to vote, a right to work and to earn her own living, live an independent life and to be recognised in society as a person who has the wealth and the beauty to succeed. Having gained all these rights she now feels she has to fit into society and her workplace by ensuring that she has styled her hair, powdered her face and wears the clothes which suites her image. As she walks into the office she feels everybody turn around and stare. She feels that she is the focus of attention, and she thinks, ‘All eyes on me. And that’s the way I like it.’ 

Another woman living in the West is occasionally asked about her manner of dress as she moves steadily in her long, dark garment that shields her against the tyranny of this life. Others around her rush frantically, but she moves with tranquillity and ease. The peace that is achieved beneath this veil of hers is immense. It is liberation beyond measure. In contrast she is not like the Western woman who wants the attention and focus of this life. This is because she is a Muslim woman, and a woman of hijab.

The sight of women covered form top to bottom, is not so rare anymore in the major cities of the West, yet many are still ignorant of its significance and the reason why women choose to adhere to such clothing. For others, it represents the oppression that Islam imposes upon women. For Muslim women however, it is the realisation that Islam will eventually reach every corner of this planet. Allah says in the Qur’an: