Hi again!
Sorry, dear readers, for just disappearing like that. I was on vacation without Internet connection. Thanks for visiting and commenting while I was away.
Since I’ve been gone, many of you have commented and joined in on a discussion about right and wrong hijab ect. ect. I appreciate your comments, and I’ve always been a fan of debates and discussions. Most of y’all are really sweet and enlightened, and it’s really good to read what’s on your minds if you agree or disagree with my thoughts and opinions.
Since starting this blog, and after the suddent popularity of it since the end of last month, I’ve been receiving much feedback. Most in my favor, some not. Sometimes people assume that if I do fashion, and talk about that, I must not know much else, about religion and otherwise. Some people assume/feel that since I spend “so much time doing my makeup and shopping”, I can’t make time for prayers, or have money to give to the poor.
There are more neuances to everything than just black and white....
Some girls tell me, that after discovering my blog, they have started trying to wear hijab, or know other girls that have done that. Others are just happy that non Muslims get to read something positive about the hijab.
Two gorgeous Somali girls approached me yesterday, asking if I was that blogger in the newspaper. They just wanted to congratulate me with getting some positive PR and attention about hijab, something that really doesn’t happen a lot here. Awwww beautiful girls, I wish I had asked them to take a photo, their style was really great.
I got a not so nice comment while I was away, that I chose not to approve. Instead I want to adress something from it that was quoted on. First, I want to say that it’s actually not just bad to get negative feedback. Sometimes you can improve and become a better person, while other times, it can be a little harsh.
Sisters, whenever I’m out talking about the hijab, it’s mostly about fashion. I’m not interviewed about Islam, I’m interviewed by non Muslim people, about the hijab in a fashion context. I talk about the hijab styles, fashion, most of all my blog. I love Islam, but I don’t claim to be one that knows all. Therefore, it’s wrong of whoever who judges my knowledge about Islam, based solely on stuff I’ve said in the interviews.
In this comment I’m addressing, the writer asks me why I’m wearing hijab, when I don’t want it to look like hijab, based on something I said in an interview. What people might know is that when you are interviewed, you don’t get two shots. All the stuff that you say, comes out unprepared. Anyway I stand by what I said, in the context I said it. What I said what like; I like Spanish hijab, especially at work, because it doesn’t necessarily look like “hijab”.
Where does this come from? What did I mean? Well, it’s quite simple. Hijab isn’t accepted everywhere. People are not always too happy about hiring women wearing hijab. Of course this is not right, that is not how it should be. But when at work, you often have a dress code to follow. A turtle neck pinned into your simple Spanish hijab covers, looks professional, and at the same time it doesn’t scare ignorant people away.
Some of you sisters are hard working, have education and good jobs. You have jobs where your hijab is accepted, and that’s great. You are lucky. Do your thing. But for me and many other girls that are in the middle of our education or simply don’t have education, we are not able to pick and choose. If I can moderate my outlooks, without moderating the coverage, why not? Better than not being able to wear anything, walla eh??
Private life and work are two different things. You never see me trying to make my hijab look like it’s not hijab in my off-work hours. I love my hijab and my religion, and I’m not afraid to show.
I also got to read being beautiful the way “I and the West” found beautiful, was the wrong kind of beautiful, and by this kind of beauty, we are spreading fitna. I’m so sorry, anonymous person, but when did I ever define beauty to you? Just because one headline reads “there is nothing wrong with being beautiful”, doesn’t mean that I’ve explained beauty. As I said there, “there is nothing wrong with being beautiful, but one shouldn’t be beautiful in “the wrong way”. One shouldn’t be sexy, using tight or see through clothes, that’s not acceptable hijab.”
Did I command anybody to use tons of makeup or to dress the same way as in all the pictures I post? No. Some of the pictures I post are of hijab, some are only for inspiration. As there are no specific guidelines written in the holy Quraan, regarding the look of covering, we have to think ourselves about what is hijab and what is not. Scholars agree on that the part about not displaying more than what normally is seen; applies to everything except from the face, the hands and in some schools, the feet. Tight and see through garments are also not allowed. There is nothing that tells us to wear dark blue/dark brown/black, and there is nothing to tell us that khimar is more right than the veil. We have to use the smarts God gave us, together with the holy book. We shouldn’t condemn the hijab of one sister as not right, if we t\don’t have proof thereof.
Yes I wear make up, and that’s maybe not good… But how can you, O commenter, tell if I pluck my brows or not. How can you assume that God didn’t give me a shape like that? I am doing haram and so are you. Please don’t judge when you don’t know. May God guide both you and me to know what is right and wrong.
And may Muslim women of all kinds continue to get positive attention in the West, especially those who fight for more important causes.
Ps! More fancy hijab styles coming your way tomorrow 😀
The Hijablog 
Great post, masha’Allah. Keep it up.
Sister, very honest and brave post. I am sorry that you are receiving such abrasive criticism. However, for every judgemental, nasty comment there are many more people who are positively impacted by the work you do. You are a warm, kind, and sincere person. I have personally felt so encouraged by the interactions we’ve had and I know that you’re making a positive difference for a lot of people with your genuine interest in the spiritual health of your community. Keep ya head up!
What a comeback, masha’Allah!
Salaams,
Sis, masha`Allaah I really like your post, to judge someone for something is as bad as if you do haraam in the first place. Insha`Allaah you aren’t discouraged BIG HUGS for you!!! Great post 🙂
Bravo…
Wounderful post, what a way to comeback!
Indeed! Bravisimo- you go girl!
Never judge a Book by its Cover!
Warm hugs my sister, you stand up and keep forging ahead we are right behind, and beside you!
Thumps up for Ur words Basbousa :))
go on and dont be affraid…
😉
but never forget what the hijab is for..
I’ve never felt that you are telling women to dress exactly in the styles/fashions that you display here on your blog. In fact, I see many of these fancy hijab styles as “party styles” for special ocassions but, as you always say, we can still draw inspiration from them just the same!
I have those “Hijab Fashion” magazines and WOW some of the styles are out of this world ~ and far too fancy for me! But I hope to be able to draw inspiration from these fancy outfits so that when I can finally sew clothing I can create lovely, feminine, and colorful modest outfits!
This blog is a treasure!! It’s opened my eyes to a whole new world of modesty!
What I like about this site is the global variety. Honestly I wish basbousa had started this blog years ago when I had to make my first trip to the Middle East where many women dress up for each other really, and for their husbands of course- It would have made conversation on fashions much more fluid and less defensive.
You see I was led to believe by some middle eastern women who live in the States that women that in their home “worlds” women only wore black all the time- a misrepresentation of their realm for sure. Because later on I met up with some of those same women in their “worlds” decked to the nines -gagging was an understatement for sure! LOL :))
A lot of these same models presented here are used for gatherings; weddings and such – and because these women -many who wear abaya and niqab on the street you could easily have thought that they never even knew what the word fashion meant. They have enough beauty salons, seamstresses and such to belie the notion.
Which is why I am carefull nowadays with many who pounce on new converts telling them that everything is haram when in reality back home they can easily spend hours in front of a mirror getting decked out for an outing.
In many ways, many European and American Muslimat are more simple in their dress. But we should know that at home; with our friends in gathering we can still deck ourselves to the nines…I sure do! Not to impress; when you have so many beautiful dresses around you all you can do is just be who you are- feminine!
Basbousa keep it up my dear- where ever we may wear these- the inspiration is more than welcomed!
it astonishes me, time and time again… how people leave our biggest problem as muslims in the west and in the WORLD and focus on the petty things and point fingers at each others. this is why we’re doomed!
if i choose to wear hijab… that is GREAT. now the details are secondary.
it aches my heart i swear to see people attacking girls, just because they don’t fit their “ideal” image.
SobhanAllah… if we’re not even supposed to say to a disbeliever, ur a disbeliever… because Allah may guide them and make them better than us one day… then how do we turn around and point at each other.
All i have to say… that if you see a girl wearing hijab, but have totally compromised it otherwise in terms of dress code, then advise her gently one-on-one and better yet… PRAY for her and for yourself!
Islam is beautiful sisters… lets celebrate the beauity and the diversity of Isalam… lets come together, grow better and closer to Allah together… instead of attaching petty details that really are so small in the struggles we face in our daily lives.
basbousa… i admire your honesty and courage… thank you for standing up for what you believe in. Insha’allah nothing but good comes your way. your religion is between you and Allah, even if it becomes a public matter. at the end of day, none of us is free of mistakes, so if the people attacking you are angels… then that’s something else!
First, let me say I just knew about ur blog a couple of wks. ago and I love it. It’s great to see someone taking time out of their day and trying 2 help us muslim sisters. Second, don’t pay attention to what others say to/about you, especially concerning Islam and how we follow it. Let them think whatever they want, but we all know Islam is the truth, & 1day they’ll have to meet Allah(swt) and face up 2 their actions/words. Don’t let any1 bring u down because ur muslim, or for anyother cause. I used to care what others thought, but now all I do is remember that my goal isn’t to make them happy, it’s to please Allah(swt) an go to heaven. I would rather live a hard life here, then suffer in hell. Thank you for what u r trying to do. Remember the best being that u should try to please is Allah (swt) and everyone else’s opinions/action can’t bring u as much hurt or joy then His. Inshallah we will be rewarded for our struggle and belief in Allah(swt) in the Hereafter. Love and peace from one sister to another:)
People are always going to complain, you know? To this day I still have people commenting saying’OMG OMG astaghfirullah’, It’s like.. please, I cannot believe people get so angry over something so petty. On the internet, it’s all to easy to leave rude comments about what other people and doing, simply because your actions and appearance are hidden! We all have out faults, so lets start concentrating on ourselves first, before hiding behind our computer screens and whinging about other people 😉
Babes, you’re doing a great service to those who are hijabi-style challenged. If you’re showing pics of hijabi styles it means fashion not khutbah on hijab for women. I don’t know how some people could be so slow and not get this. And you’re also being practical and realistic -not all muslim women hybernate in their homes and never come out. We work, we do errands, we’re out in the public, we’re pretty obvious and we want to be treated as humanly as possible because most of the time, particularly in Western countries -we aren’t. Keep up the great work. We’re all here for ya!
Awwwwww! Thank you so much, all of you! I really appreciate your comments, kind words and advices! Thank you, sisters 🙂
As there are no specific guidelines written in the holy Quraan, regarding the look of covering, we have to think ourselves about what is hijab and what is not.
this is what i wanna say!!!!
thankyou…
Basboussa, machallah!
All I want to say is that since I discover your website, I have felt so much better about myself. I am a new hijabi, and have been muslim all my life (my mom did not want me to wear the hijab) and critizised every outfit I wore calling it old looking or whatever. I really started to feel self conscious about it and since I found this blog and the fact that I could still wear nice looking clothes, colorfull clothes and hijab I feel good about myself and the best part is that my mom compliments me now
So, keep up the blog, may Allah reward you
salam.. I just want to remind the sisters about what hijab is:
Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The conditions of hijaab:
Firstly:
(It should cover all the body apart from whatever has been exempted).
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e. screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allaah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
This aayah clearly states that it is obligatory to cover all of a woman’s beauty and adornments and not to display any part of that before non-mahram men (“strangers”) except for whatever appears unintentionally, in which case there will be no sin on them if they hasten to cover it up.
– And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent (like both eyes for necessity to see the way, or outer palms of hands or one eye or dress like veil, gloves, headcover, apron), and to draw their veils all over Juyoobihinna (i.e. their bodies, faces, necks and bosoms) and not to reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband’s fathers, or their sons, or their husband’s sons, or their brothers or their brother’s sons, or their sister’s sons, or their (Muslim) women (i.e. their sisters in Islam), or the (female) slaves whom their right hands possess, or old male servants who lack vigour, or small children who have no sense of feminine sex. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful”
[al-Noor 24:31]
Hence it is required that the clothes with which a woman covers herself should not be an adornment in themselves, because she is commanded to conceal her adornment as stated above.
It is also essential that the clothing be wide and loose so that it covers all the body, and it should be thick so that it is not see-through. – therefore a khimar is rally better than a hijab. But its a matter of imaan, and patience and strenght. All respect to sisters wearing it.
This means that they should not display any part of their adornment to non-mahrams, apart from that which it is impossible to conceal. Ibn Mas’ood said: such as the cloak and robe, i.e., what the women of the Arabs used to wear, an outer garment which covered whatever the woman was wearing, except for whatever appeared from beneath the outer garment. There is no sin on a woman with regard to this because it is impossible to conceal it.
Secondly
(it should not be an adornment in and of itself).
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… and not to show off their adornment…” [al-Noor 24:31]. The general meaning of this phrase includes the outer garment, because if it is decorated it will attract men’s attention to her. This is supported by the aayah in Soorat al-Ahzaab (interpretation of the meaning):
“And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance” [al-Ahzaab 33:33]. It is also supported by the hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are three, do not ask me about them: a man who leaves the jamaa’ah, disobeys his leader and dies disobedient; a female or male slave who runs away then dies; and a woman whose husband is absent and left her with everything she needs, and after he left she made a wanton display of herself. Do not ask about them.”
(Narrated by al-Haakim, 1/119; Ahmad, 6/19; from the hadeeth of Faddaalah bint ‘Ubayd. Its isnaad is saheeh and it is in al-Adab al-Mufrad).
Thirdly:
(It should be thick and not transparent or “see-thru”)
– because it cannot cover properly otherwise. Transparent or see-thru clothing makes a woman more tempting and beautiful. Concerning this the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “During the last days of my ummah there will be women who are clothed but naked, with something on their heads like the humps of camels. Curse them, for they are cursed.” Another hadeeth adds: “They will not enter Paradise or even smell its fragrance, although its fragrance can be detected from such and such a distance.”
(Narrated by Muslim from the report of Abu Hurayrah).
Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said: what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) meant was women who wear clothes made of light fabric which describes and does not cover. They are clothed in name but naked in reality.
Transmitted by al-Suyooti in Tanweer al-Hawaalik, 3/103.
Fourthly:
(It should be loose, not tight so that it describes any part of the body).
The purpose of clothing is to prevent fitnah (temptation), and this can only be achieved if clothes are wide and loose. Tight clothes, even if they conceal the colour of the skin, still describe the size and shape of the body or part of it, and create a vivid image in the minds of men. The corruption or invitation to corruption that is inherent in that is quite obvious. So the clothes must be wide. Usaamah ibn Zayd said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave me a thick Egyptian garment that was one of the gifts given to him by Duhyat al-Kalbi, and I gave it to my wife to wear. He said, ‘Why do I not see you wearing that Egyptian garment?’ I said, ‘I gave it to my wife to wear.’ He said, ‘Tell her to wear a gown underneath it, for I am afraid that it may describe the size of her bones.’” (Narrated by al-Diyaa’ al-Maqdisi in al-Ahaadeeth al-Mukhtaarah, 1/442, and by Ahmad and al-Bayhaqi, with a hasan isnaad).
Fifthly:
(It should not be perfumed with bakhoor or fragrance)
There are many ahaadeeth which forbid women to wear perfume when they go out of their houses. We will quote here some of those which have saheeh isnaads:
Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Any woman who puts on perfume then passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, is an adulteress.”
Zaynab al-Thaqafiyyah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If any one of you (women) goes out to the mosque, let her not touch any perfume.”
Abu Hurayrah said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Any woman who has scented herself with bakhoor (incense), let her not attend ‘Ishaa’ prayers with us.”
Moosa ibn Yassaar said that a woman passed by Abu Hurayrah and her scent was overpowering. He said, “O female slave of al-Jabbaar, are you going to the mosque?” She said, “Yes,” He said, “And have you put on perfume because of that?” She said, “Yes.” He said, “Go back and wash yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: ‘If a woman comes out to the mosque and her fragrance is overpowering, Allaah will not accept any prayer from her until she goes home and washes herself.’”
These ahaadeeth are general in implication. Just as the prohibition covers perfume applied to the body, it also covers perfume applied to the clothes, especially in the third hadeeth, where bakhoor (incense) is mentioned, because incense is used specifically to perfume the clothes.
The reason for this prohibition is quite clear, which is that women’s fragrance may cause undue provocation of desires. The scholars also included other things under this heading of things to be avoided by women who want to go to the mosque, such as beautiful clothes, jewellery that can be seen, excessive adornments and mingling with men. See Fath al-Baari, 2/279.
Ibn Daqeeq al-‘Eed said:
This indicates that it is forbidden for a woman who wants to go to the mosque to wear perfume, because this causes provocation of men’s desires. This was reported by al-Manaawi in Fayd al-Qadeer, in the commentary on the first hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah quoted above.
Sixthly:
(It should not resemble the clothing of men)
It was reported in the saheeh ahaadeeth that a woman who imitates men in dress or in other ways is cursed. There follow some of the ahaadeeth that we know:
Abu Hurayrah said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the man who wears women’s clothes, and the woman who wears men’s clothes.”
‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: ‘They are not part of us, the women who imitate men and the men who imitate women.’”
Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed effeminate men and masculine women. He said, ‘Throw them out of your houses.’” He said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) expelled So and so, and ‘Umar expelled So and so.” According to another version: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men.”
‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘There are three who will not enter Paradise and Allaah will not even look at them on the Day of Resurrection: one who disobeys his parents, a woman who imitates men, and the duyooth (cuckold, weak man who feels no jealousy over his womenfolk).”
Ibn Abi Maleekah – whose name was ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Ubayd-Allaah – said: “It was said to ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), ‘What if a woman wears (men’s) sandals?’ She said: ‘The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed women who act like men.’”
These ahaadeeth clearly indicate that it is forbidden for women to imitate men and vice versa, This usually includes dress and other matters, apart from the first hadeeth quoted above, which refers to dress only.
Abu Dawood said, in Masaa’il al-Imaam Ahmad (p. 261): “I heard Ahmad being asked about a man who dresses his slave woman in a tunic. He said, ‘Do not clothe her in men’s garments, do not make her look like a man.” Abu Dawood said: “I said to Ahmad, Can he give her bachelor sandals to wear? He said, No, unless she wears them to do wudoo’. I said, What about for beauty? He said, No. I said, Can he cut her hair short? He said, No.”
Seventhly:
(It should not resemble the dress of kaafir women).
It is stated in sharee’ah that Muslims, men and women alike, should not resemble or imitate the kuffaar with regard to worship, festivals or clothing that is specific to them. This is an important Islamic principle which nowadays, unfortunately, is neglected by many Muslims, even those who care about religion and calling others to Islam. This is due either to ignorance of their religion, or because they are following their own whims and desires, or because of deviation, combined with modern customs and imitation of kaafir Europe. This was one of the causes of the Muslims’ decline and weakness, which enabled the foreigners to overwhelm and colonize them. “…Verily, Allaah will not change the condition of a people as long as they do not change their state themselves …” [al-Ra’d 13:11 – interpretation of the meaning]. If only they knew.
It should be known that there is a great deal of saheeh evidence for these important rules in the Qur’aan and Sunnah, and that the evidence in the Qur’aan is elaborated upon in the Sunnah, as is always the case.
Eighthly:
(It should not be a garment of fame and vanity).
Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever wears a garment of fame and vanity in this world, Allaah will clothe him in a garment of humiliation on the Day of Resurrection, then He will cause Fire to flame up around him.’”
(Hijaab al-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, p. 54-67).
And Allaah knows best.
eyebrows:
Allaah has forbidden women to remove any part of the hair of their eyebrows; this action is called al-namas in Arabic, and it is haraam because of the following evidence:
1 – Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“They (all those who worship others than Allaah) invoke nothing but female deities besides Him (Allaah), and they invoke nothing but Shaytaan (Satan), a persistent rebel!
Allaah cursed him. And he [Shaytaan (Satan)] said: ‘I will take an appointed portion of your slaves.
Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allaah.’ And whoever takes Shaytaan (Satan) as a Wali (protector or helper) instead of Allaah, has surely, suffered a manifest loss”
[al-Nisa’ 4:117-119]
piercings:
This is self-inflicted torture. This is not a place where adornments are usually worn, and there is no benefit in this practice. It comes under the heading of changing the creation of Allaah. And Allaah knows best.
I know its long but I see it as my duty to share with fellow siters. The hijab is so much more than some scaerf on our head. Clothes not beeing tight and seetrough isnt the only factors to hijab.
May Allah guide us all to be good muslims and to give dawah if we know for sure what we are talking about. Because speaking the words of Allah wrongly is haram.
All my love and respect to sisters that put islam and the path of Allah before anything else. 🙂
MashaAllah, sister Marrachiya! BarakAllahu fiki.
Sister Marrachiya As Salaamu Alaikum
I wish when we are teaching women about hijab, we teach that much more to men about what hijab is and THEIR Responsibility in the scheme of things…Basbousa knows from comments I have made elsewhere that what irks me is to see men, mostly in Middle Eastern countries; oggling, harrassing, whistling; chasing; barking at women who follow every single one of those most erect directives on hijab but to no avail and to their utter embarrassment and humiliation…
As we each strive to follow the edicts of Islam I pray we all pray that the other side of Creation becomes more humane; more respectful and considerate of the woman in hijab. Insha’ Allah.
May Allah continue to increase your iman my sister.
Ma’salaama
Dear sisters… Alaykom salam wa rahmetullah.. Allahibarak feekom inchaAllah.. this is what I miss.. I will be honest with you. discussions like this among us sisters that will build us up to be stronger in our deen. In that way when somebody tel us something wrong about our deenwe can answer back, we can defend ourselfs. Here in Marrakech there are so many strong sisters and brothers. sisters with khimar, niqab, brothers with beard and djellaba. TbarkAllah alihom – wallah… My mother in law has very much knowledge about deen and chose to wear the niqab not long ago. She said to me: In these days.. deen has becaome something only for us women..we read, we study and only we watch our aura.. The men, they wear what they want, go where they want, look at whom they want.. Sadly this is the reality in many contries. She said/ Allah sent the Holy book to us all, men and woman and as MUSLIMS we are all obligated to follow it. It dosent matter if ur a man or a woman.. But u know, we will all stand before Allah on our own and answer for what we have done.. Let those men be responsible for their actions.. just say astakfurillah to their faces and move on.. He who dosent fear Allah – wont fear you or me.. khalle Allah o safi.
May Allah help us to emprove… men and women inchaAllah.
Thalla sisters.
All my love Marrakchi sister 🙂
Salaam aleikum, wa Assalamu ala man ittaba’a al-huda
I think even if men are taught hijab or to lower their gaze, still we women should dress in proper hijab even though. The hanafi fiqh only permits unveiling (meaning wearing hijab instead of niqaab) if there is no fear of fitnah in the society. Is there no fear of fitnah now?
There will always be sick individuals, who can not controll their actions, regardless of what women wear. But we all know why many become like that. It is because of the kafir media and the fashion industry, promoting sex, free love, and more sex.
Muha
Don’t blame it all on the outside world…My tribe by marriage lives in a very isolated and remote mountain region in Yemen- in a tribe of more than 200 there are but two televisions- and all that appears on it is the Quranic Recitations… Not everyone can afford satellites…These people differ markedly from their other Arab counterparts in many ways- but in the one way they are the same is in their treatment of women.
There is something intrinsically wrong with the behaviour and the upbringing behind it, as well as even the way we unconsciously permit them.
Let us be aware that this site, so beautifully adorned and maintained is for sisters to meet and -for how very brief it may be in their day- enjoy the care and effort that Basbousa puts into it. A celebration of life; of color; imagery – a moment to dream… Allahu Allam
Ma’asalaama my sister
Thanks for the honest post. I really don’t think that your actions and words needed to be explained. I didn’t see anything controversial in what you said. That person is out of it. I really enjoy your blog and I see it for what it is — ideas, fun, entertainment.
And about hijab not looking like hijab, that’s a concept that’s even hard to imagine… I guess it means being covered adequately, but not looking like you’re doing it for religion? Anyway, hijab is hijab. If you’re covered, you can look like someone who’s doing it just for fashion or just for religion, but only you know what your reasons are and I think no one has the right to judge.
Candice I agree with u that no one has the right to judgde another person for her or his clothes. Only Allah knows the persons inside and why he oe she is doing it. But really we have rules and sertain factors to hijab that need to be fulfilled – for it to be proper hijab. sometimes i find myself led by fashion and whats in and out… but really hijab started with the Holy Quran – it has no “in” or “out”, “hip” or “not”.
anyway thats my opinion.
ma`salama
Thank you for your blog! The pictures of hijab are so beautiful masha’Allah, that it makes me happy to be a hijabi and to be part of such a diverse ummah. Seeing ways of wearing hijab all over the world, especially Indonesian (represent!), really brings it together that we are all different in the way we express ourselves outwardly but the heart of the matter is always Islam.
I am sorry that you are getting flack from people who feel the need to “correct” you. Just as Rome was not built in a day I think it takes time for people to find their way in Islam. For the women who are thinking about covering, the ones who are not “doing it correctly,” or choose not to wear hijab but are learning they are taking their steps in improving themselves and most importantly improving their relationship with their Lord. So how can we as imperfect people step on their efforts to do so? As a community we need to support each other, remember to make our excuses and not force our own arrogance upon people who may take take that as a sign that they are unwelcome.
I say this for myself mostly as we don’t know what state we will be in when we leave this world, and hope that Allah will continue to lead me down the righteous path of Islam. I hope that on the day of judgment I am not counted as a person who lead other people away from Islam.
Thank you for your beautiful dawah.
Assalamualaikum dearest sister
I kno this is a bit too late as I actuali just found out about ur blog! =)
Don’t worry too much about what others say. Some people just love bringing others down. And some can simply misinterpret whatever good intentions another has.
Whatever it is, u (and ur blog) have truly inspired me alot!! Thanks for sharing with us all. And definitely wearing hijab is oh so gorgeous!
Thank U once again!
Noraini