Is that a hijab, or just a head scarf?

To you,

            As a young muslim woman, I struggle a lot to balance my dunya deeds and my akhira deeds. One of those struggles is my "hijab". So I decided to share few of my thoughts with you people.

Let me introduce you to the concept itself. "Hijab" is from the arabic root "َحَجَب", which literally translates to: "to cover". and "hijab" means a cover. But you already know that, don't you? The real questions are, why? and how?

When Islam first came, more than 1400 years ago, the arab land was in chaos. Meaning, Adultery was a normal act. Women showed their flesh as a normal act. Gambling and superstitions ruled the land. As a result, immorality and "law of the jungle" were the dominant. Thats why it's called "jahiliyah", which is from the arabic root "َجَهَل", and means "ignorance". They were like animals or even worse, and islam came to uplift them, educate them, and liberate them.

I know, I know, this isn't supposed to be a history lesson, but to understand the concept, you're ought to understand the source.

So, when Islam taught them how to be civilized, it taught them not to steal, not to cheat, not to kill oneself nor one another, not to drink alcohol, not to commit adultery. It also taught them to cover up (both men and women), as a sign of modesty, which leads to escaping temporal dunya to long lasting akhira.

Basically, both men and women are obligated to wear hijab in Islam, and act upon it. They may differ in outer appearance, but they're morally identical.

Moving on to "Women's hijab" as not to make it long for you guys:

I'm not going to talk about the conditions of a hijab here, because it's a long subject with many points and sub-subjects. However, I'm going to talk about the soul of hijab.

So sister, you CHOSE to wear hijab, right? And you wear it to please Allah, right?

Here's the thing, I believe that the "scarf" is a complementary to the whole concept of hijab.

How? Well, if you make a mud pie, and cover it with yummy frosting, it would still be a mud pie, correct?

So as you see, it's not about matching the color of your scarf with the blouse you're wearing. It's about matching your outer appearance with what you have inside.

Hijab is about lowering your gaze.

Hijab is about NOT backbiting and swearing, because you're too busy upgrading your own life.

Hijab is about that bitter-sweet struggle you go through to understand Islam. 

It's about you doing things because you absolutely and ultimately love Allah, not just because you fear him.

It's about putting all your knowledge of Islam into actions, so people would see the truth of islam.

Hijab's ultimate reason is to show you're an independent, successful, well balanced "muslim" woman.

YOU represent Islam, so send the right message, or at least try!

What I'm trying to say is, you might have a girl whose hijab lacks nothing but the "head scarf". And you have another girl whose hijab has nothing but the "head scarf".

                                                                                       With Love.

P.s: please share your thoughts and comments, whether here, facebook, or twitter.

This post is dedicated to a dear friend. I hope you like it. :)

  

نحنُ قومٌ

To you,

نحنُ قومٌ إذا قلنا لم نفعل، و إن فعلنا لم نصمت..

نحنُ قومٌ نعلن الحرب على كل عاصٍ و تلك المعاصي نخفيها إذا كنا من ارتكبها..

نحنُ قومٌ نقاوم التغيير، ونقضي ساعات فراغنا سباً ولعناً لأننا لا نتغير.. ولن نتغير!

نحنُ قومٌ نريد حضارةً، ونهدم خمسين ألفاً قبل أن نبني حائطا من طين..

نحنُ قومٌ خلقنا عالماً من التحضر الوهمي لكي لا نواجه الواقع الحتمي..

..

نحنُ قومٌ ثقافتنا في رفض مناهج غيرنا، وفرض قوانيننا الرجعية

نحنُ قومٌ قوتنا في كسرنا كل من لا يتبنى أفكارنا العقيمة

نحنُ قومٌ علمُنا في جهلِ غيرِنا

نحنُ قومٌ نبني قصورنا على حُطامِ مجدِ من سبقونا، ولا مجدَ لنا.

..

نحنُ إذا قدرنا، بطشنا.

وإذا علمنا، كتمنا.

..

نحنُ قومٌ بفظاظتنا ننفِّر..

وبجهلنا المُتنكِّر ننفِّر..

وبكل أسلوبٍ عقيمٍ لدينا ننفِّر..

وبمكرنا وسذاجة غيرنا نحطِّم وندمِّر..

..

نحنُ جبابرةٌ ونسمِّيها شجاعة..

نحنُ نصنعُ اللُّعبةَ ونسنُّ قوانينها، ثم نكسِّرُ ونُحطِّم كل القوانين..

نحنُ نزرعُ الخوف في قلب من يطيعُنا قبل أن نطعمَهُ من لا يطيعنا..

نحنُ و إن نَبدُ مجتمعينَ، قلوبُنا شَتَّى..

..

نحنُ قومٌ نريدُ الإصلاح لكل الأسباب الخاطئة، ونبررها..

نحنُ قومٌ تبطش يمينُنَا بيسارِنا من شدَّة الخوفْ..

..

نحن في كل مكان، وما لزمان قدرة بأن ينهي فترة حكمنا..

فنحن نتغلغلْ، نتعمَّقْ، وجذور وجودنا لا تنتهي.. لا تُقْتَلَع.. 

..

أنتَ من يعطينا القوة..

اصمتْ! فصمتك يمدُّنا بما لا تَمدُّنا به الأسلحة..

واهربْ.. اركضْ، ولا تنظر للخلف.. 

فَرُبَّ نصيحةٍ من شيطانَ تنجيك

..

من نحن؟

نحنُ قومٌ نزعَمُ أنَّ الجَنَّة ملك لنا، ولكن هيْهاتَ أنْ تَدخُلَ الجَنَّةَ الشَّياطينُ .

                                                                 With Love.

College girls in Sudan: Stereotypes

To You,

             Those are the first ten stereotypes that popped into my head:
First type is the GOSSIP GIRL, whose only job in college is to transfer sh'marat (gossip) from one person to the other. Everyone pretends to hate her but secretly feed on the gossip she brings.

Then you have the HANKOSHA (supposedly feminine), whose every sentence start with "OH EMM GEEH!!". This type eats a pizza with a knife, and her default value is the disgusted face, like she's suffering from severe constipation.

3AROOB or (country girl) is the funniest. She's from the outskirts of Khartoum or a far village. Don't mix her simplicity with stupidity. Everything about her makes you burst into a retarded laugh, specially the way she talks.


The PLAYER is the most obvious one. She'd dated almost everyone, or is dating everyone. She's got her ways to make you buy her credit so she could spend it talking to other guys.
P.s: this type is usually heartless.

The LOUD CHICK on the other hand is always so... loud! The way she talks is obnoxious. Her laugh is annoying. Her sense of decency is nonexistent.
Caution: this creature has the ability to cause anger management problems, followed by an urge to smack the potatoes out of her.

Don't forget the HOT BARLOMA (freshman). She's innocent (supposedly) and adorable, that's why guys fall for her. She's often forgotten in second year after another hot freshman is in the picture.

There's that one type that offenses the whole female nation.... ALJA3ANA! (hungry for boys). She flirts with all guys, and is willing to steal your man if you're not careful. She would assume that a guy likes her simply because he smiled at her or something.

YA 3AMMAK (the ghetto girl) always got your back, unless you're the enemy, then she'll just whoop that ***! She might seem tough and heartless, but she'll never betray you.

The 7ARAAM (prohibited) is never to be forgotten. To her, eveything you do is haraam. She'd pass by you and give you the death threat like you stole her unicorn or something.

Last but not least, the SAFEEHA (dirty mouth). If she was to be beeped for every dirty word she said, we'd end up with a Lil Wayne song! Usually she'd make you lol, but she'd also put you in really awkward and embarrassing situations with strangers.

                     With Love

- If you can think of other stereotypes, don't hesitate to tell me.