jarang-jarang, kadang-kadang

I have found, over time, that people tend to surprise me at the oddest intervals. I think of it as Allah’s way of keeping me entertained. It stops you from losing faith in the world, which I had, at one point.

For instance, old cowboys can learn new tricks.

If my one-time-political-hero-turned-villain wants, he can ask his people to check out OUR people. ‘Our’ meaning the University of Melbourne Islamic Society (UMIS), of course. It is, after all, Islamic Awareness Week, and we ARE shorthanded. Not to mention short on speakers. Hint. Hint.

And I know some fantastic people I’d like him to meet and talk with. Ho, that would be fun.

Ah, nostalgia.

taking charge

At the risk of repeating myself, here goes something written a week ago and revised a million times over:

Last week marked the 4^th anniversary of the occupation of the American military in Iraq. The general indignant emotions at such blatant international travesty seems to have died somewhere along with time. The growing death toll has ceased to be but an extrapolating figure lost in the media. The focus is shifting to its neighbours who still hold strongly to their soil and refuse to make way to bullying on a global scale, which instantly leads them to be branded with that tired but instant label: ‘terrorist’. In fact, this particular label has become so common, its usage has extended to random passers-by in the street – directed towards hijabis, as well as anyone who has a semblance of five-o’clock shadow.

Welcome to being a Muslim in the 21^st century.

Last Easter weekend’s 1^st Annual Australian Islamic Conference (AAIC), organized by Mercy Mission, highlighted this sad situation clearly and succinctly. It triggered a media flurry, with journalists flitting in and out of the conference, its international speakers being interviewed (of particular interest was British journalist or as the Herald-Sun would call her, ‘firebrand’ Yvonne Ridley) and unjust accusations falling in like the long-missed rain.

The speakers featured were diverse, each representing their own area of expertise, but all carrying well-balanced views of the international community and each able to present Islam without sounding defensive (except for maybe sister Ridley, but she had valid excuse to launch a verbal defence anyway). There were Mesheikh Shabir Ally and Jamal Badawi (no relation to a particular political figure) from Canada, Sheikh Waleed Basyouni the PhD Oxford scholar living in Houston, Texas, Sheikh Tawfique Chowdury from Melbourne’s Mercy Mission and al-Kauthar Institute, and sister Yvonne Ridley from Great Britain.

There was an intense and almost uncomfortable focus on the conference by the Australian media, especially when two of the planned speakers, Bilal Abu Ameenah Phillips and Sheikh Jaafar Idris were denied visas into the country. However, the event went on smoothly and excellently well, with only some apparent distress expressed by the organizers on the attendees’ seeming inability to be punctual. And right, misquotations of sr. Ridley by the press, The Herald-Sun being the party of note (and of much verbal assault by the person in question).

If nothing else, the conference highlighted the severe scrutiny being placed on Muslims of the 21^st century, where electron microscopes would serve as the proper analogy. We are being monitored unscrupulously, and with a biased mindset in check. As Waleed Aly observed at the Red Cross’s forum on ‘International Humanitarian Law and the Muslim World’, the term ‘Muslim’ itself brings to the mind of the ignorant public majority an image of a political entity, rather than mere individuals trying to get along with everyday life.

All of a sudden, the opinion of one particular Muslim becomes the staunch and unfailing view of all. The popular notion seems to be that there is no such thing as individuality in Islam, and that adhering to Allah’s Divine Laws equates becoming part of an unthinkingly loyal club of zombies, which is most definitely not the case, as further inspection would prove. Although difficult to comprehend at first, the local media’s obsession over Sheikh al-Hilaly’s media faux pas makes some sense – they seriously view his position as ‘mufti’, as that of a leader over Australian (and New Zealand, let’s not forget) Muslims and thus, that his thoughts directly reflect those of other Muslims. The truth of the matter remains, that he is merely a form of community leader for the Lakemba district of Sydney, and his words – though they may undeniably affect the mindsets of some people – hold no direct consequence to the continental Muslim population.

There have been some dire miscommunication on both sides of the conflict, but it has also highlighted the fact that in today’s world, individual Muslim opinions have gained more focus and importance to the non-Muslim majority as represented by the media. A single Muslim is capable of garnering more political furore over his/her personal political views than an entire African nation steeped in humanitarian conflict is able to. In light of recent news headlines, one wonders: if a non-Muslim were to proclaim support for Tehran’s policies, would he/she be so much a concern as a Muslim who shared such an opinion?

Let us be honest with ourselves and underline the all-too-obvious: there is a bout of Islamophobia in the world, and the media perpetrates it with all too much eagerness. One thing the speakers at the conference and in particular, the ever-diplomatic Sheikh Jamal Badawi stressed upon, was that this blatant ignorance and stereotyping has to stop, and this change will only begin when Muslims start to become proactive, and counter such ignorance by taking it upon themselves to play a part in the community at large. We take the beatings everyday, but this increasing resistance to such attacks has made us dismissive and unaccounted for. We read and hear about ourselves in the media every single day, but allow such ignorance to pass by us unchecked. The worst of all is when we choose specific agendas and then react in such a manner that simply reiterates the stereotype, such as happened worldwide during the Denmark cartoon issue. You do not defend your image by living up to the stereotype, much less a false one.

Thus, if we cry out victim, we must check ourselves and where need be, share the blame.

Admittedly, doing da’wah in a secular world is not easy, mostly because the definition of religion used in most lands is not that of Islam’s dynamic meaning. As brother Mohamed Acharki noted in his article for UMIS’s Al-Qalam (April 2006), ‘Connotations of Religion’, we must reconsider the very different meanings that the word ‘religion’ entails for these two worlds on either spectrum. We need to look back on history and see where the Western image of religion originated, and where the secular mindset was derived from. We must review the meaning of Islam as a religion, and strive to clear the misunderstandings by being staunchly politically correct, so as to better convey the message of Allah’s Deen as we are meant to.

There is now an urgent need for knowledge and for learning the means of getting it across, especially in today’s world, where prejudice and ignorance have become joint lawmakers. Muslims need to wake up from the self-destructive cocoon we’ve been building around ourselves. We have to realize that change has arrived, and it’s caught us by surprise. To repeat the same mistake would only prove that we have failed to see the warning signs as they escalated all around us at alarming levels – war, poverty, genocide, political anarchy. We have to quit apologizing and start setting the record straight – that we are what we are, and that the few strays do not denote the entire ummah.

One conclusion surmised from the three-day convention was that there needs to be reaching out from both sides of the world; we have to seek and understand the ‘other’ so that we can let ourselves be heard clearly and justly. Even if there is no eminent ‘clash of civilizations’, there is an urgent need for dialogue and proactive action, if we are to safeguard peace and uphold justice for the generations to come. If history can teach us nothing else, it is that complacency is one of the most dangerous sedatives of civilization.

"Wither Muslims?"

An acquaintance said to me the other night, “Wither Muslims?” When I beckoned further explanation, he replied and I quote him, “All talk no action.” I thought it an ironic phrase coming from him, but other than that, I refrain from further comment. Admittedly, that choice twist on Shakespeare, I believe, made my brain move at a furious pace, and I duly credit him for the choice of my topic.

Wither Muslims, indeed? Have we all hidden behind the mirage of anonymity of blogs set up to spread the word? Have we all sought refuge in our scholarly items and have found no other way out? Have we submerged ourselves in the familiar enclosure of culture and refuse to crawl back out?

As Muslims, we are oft-reminded (and in turn, remind others) of how we live to serve only one purpose, which is to worship the Almighty Lord, and that in so doing, we strive to do all that is deemed worthy of acceptance of God.

In other words, we have been set forth to do good.

Now, there seems to be a misconception amongst this particular generation of Muslims, where we tend to contain shallow perspectives of how this good is to be perpetrated into the world. The distinct lines between blatant selfishness and general goodwill have somehow been blurred by the wonder that is the human mind. Where our purpose in life is to do good by all, we find it sufficient to do good by ourselves and appease our own conscience.

Which leads me to the question: Are Muslims allowed to choose their battles? To pick among a lot and select the most convenient to champion? To pay attention to those that interest Muslims alone, and to blatantly close an eye to all others?

Shame on me, and shame on you.

The word Muslim itself is an adjective, which means ‘one who submits to God’. And as for acts of submission, God did not tell us to only pay attention to the matters that concern us most, but to do good by all. And the definition of ‘all’, the last time I checked, meant something in its entirety. So when we talk about all of mankind, we really should mean it.

As bearers of God’s deen, it surprises me at times, how ignorant we are by choice. Granted, we have been persecuted and demoralized beyond belief in the past century alone, but it is no excuse for the level to which we have secluded our concerns – into and unto ourselves is where the world ends. Selfishness was never part of Islam, and should not be within the Muslim ummah.

Therefore it pains me to see people rant on and on about Palestine and Iraq and ignore Afghanistan and Kashmir. Or for them to talk about boycotting Zionist businesses but fail to advocate fair trade in defence of global child labour. Or for them to talk about Sudan but neglect to care about the FTA, or the happenings of the UN. Or for them to continue to discuss international/local politics, but refuse to attain positions of responsibility, where differences actually begin to be made.

It is this placidity and acceptance to mediocrity that helps shoot my blood pressure past the safe level. Because I’ve come to learn that Muslims should not succumb to mediocrity. We should not choose our battles, or limit our concerns, because humankind is our concern.

This reluctance to act has prompted many of our contemporary scholars to remind us oft and again of the need for Muslims to play a part in the community, before they dare speak of the building of an ummah, much less an actual caliphate. They keep reminding over and again, on every platform they can reach, that change begins from the individual – that we have to stop being selfish, and to go out there to give more, and without thinking. That in everything we do, we should stop and consider about how our next action can be done to benefit other than ourselves.

In short, they are advising us to quit being hypocrites and to begin walking the walk. Because we are Muslims, and the only limit for a Muslim is perfection as depicted in the Beloved, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), which while may never be attained anyone else, should not remain a lofty dream, but to be retained as a standard model for us all – of modesty amidst greatness, of humanity amidst apathy, of courage amidst oppression, and of the negligence of impossibilities in doing what is right and true. He taught us to always reach for higher than what we knew, but to never hold the world in our hands. He was never selective in doing good, nor did he ignore one aspect of life in committing to the other. The Prophet never encouraged selfishness, not even in the most dire of states.

I feel that on the blessed day of his birth, we should at least pause from picking at the flaws of others and to peek a look at our own nafs, and re-evaluate our position and our intention in working and living as we do. There is nothing wrong in comparing ourselves to the Prophet, because it would only serve to humble and humiliate, rather than to feed the ego. And then in doing so, maybe we would progress, instead of just talking about it.

For if we wish to live in the shadow of the Prophet, then we should at least work to deserve the shade.

To further my point, I recommend this audio clip by Dr. Tariq Ramadhan, al-Azhar scholar, celebrated author, and incidentally, grandson of the late Imam Hassan al-Banna. (Coutesy of TheRadicalMiddleWayProject)

*Slapping palm to forehead*

Assalamu’alaikum all.

Until I get proper broadband access, the overworked uni comp lab is all I’ve got. And the chocolate mocha lying near my feet (untouched, due to the ‘no consumption’ rule) makes me feel guilty for hanging around too long.

And so, feeling like the awful blogger that I am, I have decided to share a few interesting links:

a) This was just pathetic, man.

b) This feels a bit personal, thanks to current living situations (BTW, yes, I have moved in, but the unpacking will take a while).

c) This is going to freak Ijjie out, and make Raiyan upset.

d) This is just so sad, on so many different levels.

Sigh. O, my First-World-country-wannabe homeland. When I am far away, I miss you. But when I am near you, you give me a headache beyond all expectations.

Ummu Wafa’, may Allah give you strength to face all that you will.

Wassalam.

They say that sharing is caring.

Tomorrow will be my last officially Malaysian day for a while.

Much thanks to everyone for everything. For all the food, for all the memories, for the pep talks and serious discussions I’ve missed for so long, for all the car rides and the sweet wishes, for all the laughs, and gee, for all the tears as well.

Praise be to Allah for all I have given to me.

Now that that’s somewhat done…

I’d like to share you this link about what it’s like to a female Muslim in the world.

And I’d like to share with you this:

In all honesty, I would’ve probably chosen the white doll. Even today, if I took the survey right after I woke up.

Gives you something to think about, innit?

Wassalam.

The Radical Middle Way.

There is an ongoing program conducted by the Federation of Students’ Islamic Societies (FOSIS) of the United Kingdom, called The Radical Middle Way Project. From what I understand, it’s supposed to be a re-education of sorts for the British community, so that they may better understand Islam. The term ‘middle way’ is a direct reference to a verse in the Quran, where God explains Islam to be a moderate religion, easier and universal, unlike the ones He sent down before it. ‘Radical’ is obviously a direct reference to how most of the Western world views Islam, and together, they make for a paradoxical phrase — my favourite kind to repeat.

In recent days, a series of little events have rocked this little world of mine, making me somewhat righteously indignant (if such a thing can be said), and reminding me of why I live as I do, in the first place. As a result of these ever God-sent events, there has been renewed interest in the spiritual condition of Malaysia. People are beginning to talk, think and absorb. That’s always a good place to start.

One of the main topics surrounding Malaysian life would be the unprecedented flooding of the southern-most state of the Peninsula, Johor. In recent days, there have been many first-hand accounts of what happened to, and what is currently going on with the people of that state. As a briefer, Johor was unexpectedly hit by massive flooding of most parts of the state, submerging countless homes, destroying crops and livestock. Hundreds of thousands were stranded, and eventually evacuated to nearby relief centres.

Our family friends who have visited the areas recently gave us a picture that is somewhat sad. One village has been submerged in thick, foul-smelling black mud, which volunteer workers say reminds them of Aceh’s tsunami waste. People are queuing up for a bottle of mineral water. Women don’t have anything to clothe themselves with. Children study in the barest of circumstances. Yet in the midst of all the tragedy, a news publication still had the gall to conduct a talent-search concert in the area.

The most appalling part? The concert was attended by hundreds of thousands of Johorians, clearly apathetic about the sufferings of their own neighbours. I mean, people are dying out there, and you’re still busy singing songs about heartache and pain?

Come on, people. Let’s get real. There is no greater heartache or pain than waking up one morning, and learning that your entire life, as you know it, is submerged under metres of stagnant water; that you have to start over from nothing at all, except pity and charity. And even that’s sorely lacking.

Another wake-up call for me would be watching the newly-established Al-Jazeera English news network, where they live up to their claim of ‘giving the other side of news’. Whereas before I had the excuse of not understanding a word, now I find myself going back to the channel. Al-Jazeera keeps things human, choosing to highlight the issues the rest of us prefer to skim over in the papers. Watching it reminds me that there are people out there who are suffering, and not just in war. It reminds me that the entire planet is in need of a fixer-upper, and that for as long as I live, it is my responsibility to do what I can to help.

It reminds me that the world does not centre around me, and that I should get over myself and off my butt.

And recently occurred the culmination of what I simply call ‘attacks on Muslims, by Muslims’. I will acknowledge here what I acknowledged before: I am part of an usrah. I feel no shame in it. I see no harm in it. I am merely part of something that has been established in countless government schools and masjids, which is to partake in a peaceful discussion of Islam — to share knowledge and exchange ideas, and to be part of a small group of friends who care and look out for one another. In fact, ‘usrah’ is just a word in Arabic which means ‘family’. It was the main means the Prophet Muhammad used to educate people with Islam, at the advent of its revelation.

Don’t believe the last bit? I’m telling you to read back on history.

Ever since my mother started joining lessons organized by the local mosque (which is strictly monitored by the Government, but whatever), we’ve gone through some gradual changes as a family. Words like ‘halaqah’ and ‘usrah’ are common to our tongues. When I’d just finished with secondary school, my mother dragged me to her classes and usrah discussions as well, and much to my surprise, I had great fun. Being part of a mellow atmosphere, where everybody is a friend, is like therapy of sorts.

Well, the other day, someone I didn’t know just sent me an IM, claiming that ‘usrah’s are the number one cause of division among the Muslim society. I could tell straightaway that the comment was meant to provoke me, and after telling the dude to chill and lay off the hate, I placed him on my ‘Ignore List’ and moved on. I remember a time not so long ago when I would’ve been a lot more unforgiving. I was never the patient sort to begin with, and suppressing my anger was never an option. I even proudly walloped a fellow male classmate once, because he wouldn’t stop calling me (or someone else, I can’t remember) some idiotic name.

The ironic thing (for my virtual hater) is that being in an usrah taught me to be tolerant and to respect other people first, no matter what they’re saying about you. And if you can find no better way to clear the anger, then walk away. Take wudhu’, and walk away.

The point that I’m trying to make is that these are difficult times for Muslims. I’m sure everybody knows that by now. Osama bin Laden only used one word to justify his so-called attacks: Islam. Never mind that up till that point, he was heavily funded by the US government.

Now, everybody thinks that Islam is a religion of hate and revenge. Over what, I’m not exactly sure. As the guys at the ‘Allah Made Me Funny Comedy Tour’ would say, “you can’t be a Muslim and a terrrorist at the same time”. It just isn’t done. Especially not when God tells you to be peaceful. In the earliest days of Islam, when the new Muslims were brutally tortured by the Quraisy of Makkah, they did not even retaliate.

We seem to forget to tell others that Islam does not allow war, unless you have been attacked. And in the Qur’an, there is even a verse forbidding further retaliation when the enemy has stopped attacking.

Islam is an easy, uncomplicated religion, which ensures the easiest solution for every situation, in any era, in any circumstance.

And it pains me to say this, but some Muslims are too busy playing the blame game. We keep on forgetting that we should unite in the face of mounting international tension and undisguised stigma, instead of laying the hate around us. Political differences aside, we should set our hearts for what is right by the people, instead of placing emphasis on what ends up in our pockets. Listen to those around you and pay attention to what they’re saying. Quit playing hide-and-seek with God, because He sees right through our hearts effortlessly. There’s no point being a hypocrite anyway, when all will be laid out in the end.

You talk the talk, but you don’t walk the walk. You say that you’re all for progress and change, but your mind is stuck in a ditch that collapsed into itself years ago. I’ll admit that this is a generalization, but it works, if only for the fact that it’s too general a condition now to be pinned down to any one sort of person.

You’re too averse to change, yet you lobby for it. You separate matters of religion from everyday life, saying that they cannot co-exist. You let lack of knowledge, and your refusal to think, mar your sights and your heart. You’re too busy trying to appease your greed that you forget about others.

You’re too preoccupied with your dime-a-dozen life, relishing the cramped bubble you’ve built around yourself, that you won’t even share your space with thoughts of God, let alone Love for Him.

Come on. If you have to change; make a difference in yourself, get over your shame of admitting it. I’ve said this before, and I will say this ever again: CHANGE IS NOT A BAD THING.

Dang, I sound like a broken record.

Quit being scared of change. It’s not worth being afraid of.

Work the earth as if you will live on it forever; live your life as if every day is your last.

Before this is a reminder for you, please note that I am reminding myself first and foremost. I guess Michael Jackson got it right (although I can hardly believe I’m saying this):
‘If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change.’

And to end my little indignant rant, I would like to quote someone I admire for his utter frankness and blatant individuality:

‘If you were dead, you’d have much bigger problems than what you’re wearing.’
-Owen Armstrong-

(He’s a character in a book, by the way)

Wassalamualaikum.

To my Muslim Sisters.

I found this as I was browsing through IslamOnline.net. I had a hearty chuckle when I read an article declaring Malaysia to be ‘the image of an ideal Muslim country.’ If that were the case, then why do most of its citizens not understand the meaning of the hijab, and how it’s crux is a religious, not a misogynistic one?

(Direct reference to Kelantan’s hijab reinforcement and the biased media hoopla that ensued.)

(And I do not believe the ancient and overused agnostic view that religion is excused sexism, so you can’t argue with me using that stance.)

Anyhow, this was an interesting insight into what others think of us. I always have been particularly curious about what the typical non-Muslim Australian sees us, especially when the male ones tend to give us way more space and respect than we’re used to in our homeland.

Maybe this is how they see us:

By Joanna Francis Writer, Journalist – USA

Between the Israeli assault on Lebanon and the Zionist “war on terror,” the Muslim world is now center stage in every American home. I see the carnage, death and destruction that have befallen Lebanon, but I also see something else: I see you. I can’t help but notice that almost every woman I see is carrying a baby or has children around her. I see that though they are dressed modestly, their beauty still shines through. But it’s not just outer beauty that I notice. I also notice that I feel something strange inside me: I feel envy. I feel terrible for the horrible experiences and war crimes that the Lebanese people have suffered, being targeted by our common enemy. But I can’t help but admire your strength, your beauty, your modesty, and most of all, your happiness. Yes, it’s strange, but it occurred to me that even under constant bombardment, you still seemed happier than we are, because you were still living the natural lives of women. The way women have always lived since the beginning of time. It used to be that way in the West until the 1960s, when we were bombarded by the same enemy. Only we were not bombarded with actual munitions, but with subtle trickery and moral corruption. Through Temptation They bombarded us Americans from Hollywood, instead of from fighter jets or with our own American-made tanks. They would like to bomb you in this way too, after they’ve finished bombing the infrastructure of your countries. I do not want this to happen to you. You will feel degraded, just like we do. You can avoid this kind of bombing if you will kindly listen to those of us who have already suffered serious casualties from their evil influence. Because everything you see coming out of Hollywood is a pack of lies, a distortion of reality, smoke and mirrors. They present casual sex as harmless recreation because they aim to destroy the moral fabric of the societies into which they beam their poisonous programming. I beg you not to drink their poison. There is no antidote for it once you have consumed it. You may recover partially, but you will never be the same. Better to avoid the poison altogether than to try to heal from the damage it causes. They will try to tempt you with their titillating movies and music videos, falsely portraying us American women as happy and satisfied, proud of dressing like prostitutes, and content without families. Most of us are not happy, trust me. Millions of us are on anti-depressant medication, hate our jobs, and cry at night over the men who told us they loved us, then greedily used us and walked away. They would like to destroy your families and convince you to have fewer children. They do this by presenting marriage as a form of slavery, motherhood as a curse, and being modest and pure as old-fashioned. They want you to cheapen yourself and lose your faith. They are like the Serpent tempting Eve with the apple. Don’t bite. Self-Value I see you as precious gems, pure gold, or the “pearl of great value” spoken of in the Bible (Matthew 13: 45). All women are pearls of great value, but some of us have been deceived into doubting the value of our purity. Jesus said: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7: 6). Our pearls are priceless, but they convince us that they’re cheap. But trust me; there is no substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity, innocence and self-respect staring back at you. The fashions coming out of the Western sewer are designed to make you believe that your most valuable asset is your sexuality. But your beautiful dresses and veils are actually sexier than any Western fashion, because they cloak you in mystery and show self-respect and confidence. A woman’s sexuality should be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man who loves and respects you enough to marry you. And since your men are still manly warriors, they deserve no less than your best. Our men don’t even want purity anymore. They don’t recognize the pearl of great value, opting for the flashy rhinestone instead. Only to leave her too! Your most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no compensation for that loss. You are flawless diamonds. Don’t let them trick you into becoming rhinestones. Because everything you see in the fashion magazines and on Western television is a lie. It is Satan’s trap. It is fool’s gold. A Woman’s Heart I’ll let you in on a little secret, just in case you’re curious: pre-marital sex is not even that great. We gave our bodies to the men we were in love with, believing that that was the way to make them love us and want to marry us, just as we had seen on television growing up. But without the security of marriage and the sure knowledge that he will always stay with us, it’s not even enjoyable! That’s the irony. It was just a waste. It leaves you in tears. Speaking as one woman to another, I believe that you understand that already. Because only a woman can truly understand what’s in another woman’s heart. We really are all alike. Our race, religion or nationalities do not matter. A woman’s heart is the same everywhere. We love. That’s what we do best. We nurture our families and give comfort and strength to the men we love. But we American women have been fooled into believing that we are happiest having careers, our own homes in which to live alone, and freedom to give our love away to whomever we choose. That is not freedom. And that is not love. Only in the safe haven of marriage can a woman’s body and heart be safe to love. Don’t settle for anything less. It’s not worth it. You won’t even like it and you’ll like yourself even less afterwards. Then he’ll leave you. Self-Denial Sin never pays. It always cheats you. Even though I have reclaimed my honor, there’s still no substitute for having never been dishonored in the first place. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight, begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside, we know that we have been cheated. We secretly admire and envy you, although some of us will not admit it. Please do not look down on us or think that we like things the way they are. It’s not our fault. Most of us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot. Don’t be fooled, my sisters. Don’t let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure. We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost. Hold onto your purity. Remember: you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. So guard your “toothpaste” carefully! I hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended: the spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration. From your Christian sister – with love…

* This article is republished with the kind permission of the author. The original can be found onCrescent and the Cross. Joanna Francis is a writer and journalist. She manages her ownblog.

Burst your bubble.

Assalamualaikum wrh. wbt.

On the flight back, I was accosted by images of the Malaysian ideal — a place for leisure; for shopping, for dawdling at odd angles in the sun, for eating, for bright sunny days and taking in the delights of the tropical rainforests.

And it scared me.
I was frightened.

Because the Malaysian ideal is becoming less and less Malaysian by the second.

Has it ever struck you that the standard and gauge we use to analyse the world is becoming less Malaysian, and more Western? Now, I’m not trying to segregate different schools of thought here, but it is very striking how much the way we evaluate something is becoming less of our own, and more to the ideals presented to us by the media, which is made up by, in turn, the ideals of a society hiding behind the facade of awe-inspiring glamour (read: Hollywood) — a society which, in trying to figure out its own culture and ideals, seeks to enrapture others in their own way of thinking.

Just today, in one of the free tabloid dailies that arrive at my doorstep every morning, was a column dedicated to ‘the voice of the youth’. Both were diatribes of the most trivial kind: the young woman went on and on about how age is nothing but a number, and the young man indulged in a self-justifying essay (which Mark Tredinnick would scorn for sure, for its lack of substance) about why he was only sticking around, ‘shaking leg’ in Malaysia, fulfilling his filial duty (towards his parents which he is ‘not very fond of’), waiting for a transfer overseas to fall from the sky.

Both were topics that have been exhausted within an inch of their lives. Both were stale, and did not at all interest me. Both were rants of the most selfish kind — superficial, and unpersuasive.

So tell me, is this the voice of Malaysian youth today?

My lawyer friend and neighbour had a chat with me the other day about the difference between the Australian youth and the Malaysian youth. We both observed that the youth in this country of ours had their opinions and their thoughts beaten into submission.

The Malaysian youth — which I shall from this point onwards refer to as ‘remaja’, for want of a shorter phrase — have evolved into self-centered, hedonistic young adults who can’t care less beyond what affects them and transcends generations.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my country. Or else, with all the livability of Melbourne, I wouldn’t think of coming back home. I love my homeland — the only country I’ve grew up in — so much so that this slacktitude hurts me. It makes me sad. It also gives me a headache when I think about it for too long.

We are the people this country relies on to bring it forward. Instead, we’re too concerned with petty relationships, our appearances and having a good time to care much about the state the world is in.

I don’t blame the youth of Malaysia. Well, not completely. It’s easy to get sucked into a mind-vaping environment. I’ve only been a week back, and I’ve gone from channel-surfing with disdain at the utter lack of substance of the shows screened here, to actually getting stuck in front of the idiot box for nearly hours at a time (admittedly, in front of the Disney Channel, which is the only channel whose shows seem to contain any semblance of a message, other than CNN and Al-Jazeera in English, which is simply awesome, man).

The thing I wonder is, isn’t the generation before us, i.e. our parents, concerned by our lack of empathy?

Again, I don’t fully blame them. They had lived through years of evolution of minds. Maybe they find this lack of action to their liking. Maybe they’ve decided that the revolutions of the youth have had more than their fair share of say.

Sadly, as a result, the remaja seem to be hurtling into a heads-on collision of self-destruction and disrepair.

Rempits, prostitution, porn, fornication, child-murder, rape. Those are just a few of the tragedies that seem to have become the norm in today’s world. And Malaysia is no less prevalent.

I guess my point is that the remaja — the crux of the future of Malaysia — have to wake up and burst this little bubble they’ve enclosed themselves in. We have to realize that we hold the fate of our nation in our hands. We are the ones who will inherit this land, whether we like it or not, and sooner or later, we’re going to have to lead and govern it. We’re going to shape the way of things to come. For a start, we’ve got to realize that having original thought is not a crime, despite what others might say.

And while we’re at it, let’s stop caring so much what other people think, and start thinking more about the benefits, rather than the popularity of our actions.

Let’s stop indulging in ‘emoting’ out thoughts out with rubbish vocab that is all style and little else, and start talking about things that matter — things that have the potential to make a change in someone’s lives. Let’s take it a step forward, and match our talk with our actions. Talk is cheap (if done correctly, heck, it can be free!), and in the end, if we don’t do as we say, the only people we’re fooling are ourselves.

Let’s dare to be different. Let’s dare to brave through difficult times, just for the sake of what results in the end, even if we won’t live to see it. If you believe in the Hereafter, show it with the things you do, and the principles you believe in. If you don’t, well, think about what you’re going to leave behind for your children. Do you want to let them inherit a shell of an existance?

If you love your country, the way God meant you to, then prove it. Make a change for the better. Think for others, not just for yourself.

Let’s quit being full-time optimists and start being full-time activists. And stop acting as if CHANGE is a dirty word.

Because trust me, it’s not. In fact, for a monosyllabic, it’s actually quite rewarding.

‘Rasulullah once mentioned in a hadith, as narrated by Imam Ahmad:
“Islam began foreign, and it will end foreign, so the foreigners (ghurabaa) should rejoice.”

When asked by the sahabi, “Who are these foreigners, O Prophet of Allah?”

He explained, “They are those who make right what has been wronged by mankind.”‘

Thank you for letting this reminder for myself become a reminder to you, as well.

Jazakumullahu khayr.

Daging and tudung saji.

Assalamualaikum wrh. wbt.

First of all, I would like to apologize if I unintentionally insult any of my audience along the way. I have a tendency to do that. Alhamdulillah, I am not some major public figure. Otherwise, I might get in some hot soup that is so eagerly brewed by the half-witted politicians who (hopefully not for very long) govern this gorgeous land.

Yes. I am referring to Sheikh Taj-el-Din. Or as my people call it, Tajuddin. Which is my uncle’s name, incidentally.

Moving on.

I am in no way available for comment on the issue. Mainly because I wasn’t there in Lakemba. And also because my first impression of him was that he had said something wrong. But I would like to thank Allah for helping clear my mind on this one, and for letting it be open enough to field all sorts of opinions from left and right.

First of all, let me state that the current Australian government is unashamedly right-wing (from my little understanding of Australian politics, that is). They, for the most part, have unquestionably racist views of how Australian should be (do Google for ‘John Howard, racist comment, Islam, Arabs’, and you’ll get the picture), and they refuse to actually listen to their people which really defies the whole idea of democracy (as my Bio lecturer so graciously indicated in his retirement rant about David Hicks being undefended by his country, peppered with Australian expletives and plenty of the f-word). Howard and Costello should shut their yanks from going on and on about how so-and-so nation is not democratic, and start getting scared about Beazley winning this one. Because if they continue with the chaos they’re spinning and mucking around with, and not take back some of the more idiotic things they have done to the people of Australia, then Beazley seems to be the sure-winner in this one.

Howard and Co. have certainly no love from Victorian university students, what with us bearing the painful brunt of VSU. The majority of us, anyway.

Secondly, I have deduced from a prolonged observation, that the Australian people are a pragmatically emotional lot. That may sound paradoxical to you, but trust me, that’s what they are. They tend to be let by their emotions, but within the limits of logic and political-correctness. And so if they are upset, they will most certainly show it. But with carefully-measured restrain.

Again, Howard seems to be the sole exception to this rule.

And now to the point. I have decided to give the two cents of others’ here, in hopes that what little virtual audience I have will rest assured, that the Mufti of Australia and NZ is not a masochistic caveman from some long-ago culture, but that he has merely been, as so many Hollywood and Malaykayu (geddit?) personas call it,

“Misquoted”.

Do read with an open mind what I get from MUIS-news:

“I agree to everything you have said so far- it is 100% correct and
>true. However, i ask you all- how many of you know verbatim what
>Sheikh AlHilaly said? how many of you can correctly quote him word
>for word? how many of you were present when he gave the Islamic
>lesson on the fourth day of Ramadan after Taraweeh? why are we
>always condemning the media for manipulation and misconstruing and
>misquoting and misinterpreting yet this time we are taking their
>side and believing their claims? well allow me to clear everything
>up for you.
>
>I heard Sheikh Alhilaly on that night at Lakemba mosque after
>taraweeh prayers,& and i heard his khutba this afternoon and i heard
>him explaining yet again this evening on The Voice of Islam and i
>assure you if you would call up and ask for a transcript of his
>latest interview, asked for a recording, or asked any member of the
>public who heard him tonight and understood him you will be
>confident of what i am about to inform you. The incident which
>instigated this whole debacle was, as i mentioned previously, an
>Islamic lesson on two sections of two verses of the Quran;
>”assaariko wassaarikato’ (the thief and the thiefess) and
>”azzaniyato wazzaniy” (the adulteress and adulterer) (surah An-noor
>verse 2). he was explaining to a muslim audience the Islamic purpose
>regarding why in the first verse Allah started by mentioning the
>male criminal while in the second verse he started by mentioning the
>female criminal. the second verse was in reference to ADULTERY
>(unlawful sexual intercourse) NOT RAPE. and he went on to state that
>an adulteress or a prostitute is “USUALLY” the one who instigates or
>excites the male adulterer by wearing immodest and revealing
>clothing.
>
>Let me remind you that he was addressing an entirely muslim audience
>and his words were intended for muslim women. now, allow me to
>re-iterate HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ADULTERY and NOT RAPE. he then went
>on to make an analogy in reference to another topic entirely- hijab
>(or head scarf) and rape. and he asked his audience that if they
>were to leave a piece of meat in their backyard would it not attract
>cats? and they said yes and he said if you put it in your front yard
>would it still attract cats and they replied in the affirmative and
>then he asked them “what about if you covered this piece of meat?
>would the cats smell it or even go near it?” and they replied in the
>negative as i am sure& you would too.
>
>Let me clarify he was talking TO muslim women ABOUT muslim women and
>regarding their attire and was encouraging the wearing of the veil
>for ones protection IN HIS COMMUNITY. he did not REPEAT did NOT
>refer to non-muslim women in any form or manner, he did NOT condone
>the criminal act of rape , in fact he likened rapists to feral
>ANIMALS and he was quoted as saying “”I would like to unequivocally
>confirm that the presentation related to religious teachings on
>modesty and not to go to extremes in enticements, this does not
>condone rape,” he explained. “I condemn rape and reiterate that this
>is a capital crime.”
>
>Maybe this needs to be highlighted and posted in size 36 font. so,
>before we go ahead and join in the universal slander of one of our
>highly respected and learned sheikhs maybe we should make sure we
>have the correct information and listen to his side of the story and
>not blindly believe what the media presents us with, as Allah SWT
>said [surah alhujuraat verse 6];” ya ayoha alatheena aamano in
>jaa’akom fasiqon binaba’in fatabayanoo an tuseebo qawman bijahalatin
>fatusbi7o 3ala ma fa3altom nadimeen” (O you who believe! If a lier
>comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people
>in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have
>done). after what evidence you have been presented with, do you
>believe that such a man deserves the avalanche of abuse, reprisal
>and condemnation that is unfortunately coming from our fellow Muslim
>brothers and sisters who undoubtedly have formulated their opinions
>based on the lies and deception of the popular media? does such a
>man deserve to be thrown out of office for merely explaining a
>section of the quraan? an why is it that an incident that occurred
>almost 1 month ago is only brought to the public forefront now? is
>it to draw attention away from another scandalous affair? i leave
>you to make up your own minds- but please ensure that you choose
>reliable resources and may Allah guide us all to the truth and
>righteous path. Ameen
>
>Your sister in Islam,
>Rania Abdou.

And from the man himself:

The sheikh's statement
>>> 31Oct06
>>> In full of a statement issued last night by Sheik Taj Aldin
>>> Alhilali entitled ``Explanatory Statement by the Mufti El-Hilali
>>> regarding the recent media campaign'':
>>> I would like to outline clearly and plainly some of the facts and
>>> basics that formulate my faith, belief and my understanding of the
>>> teachings of the true religion of Islam.
>>> 1. The crime of rape against any woman is an abominable crime; it 
>>> has no justification, and the perpetrator deserves the severest 
>>> punishment and would not deserve to belong to a religion or to 
>>> humanity.
>>> 2. Women in Australia or any other western society are free to wear
>>> what they like, and no Muslim has the right to dictate the rulings
>>> of his religion on others. While non-Muslim women can cover or 
>>> reveal whatever they choose of their bodies, Islamic Shari'a made 
it 
>>> incumbent upon Muslim men to lower their gaze. It is prohibited for 
>>> them to stare at the beauty of strange women.
>>> 3. It is my duty as a religious leader to advise Muslim women to
>>> adhere to and abide by the Islamic dress code. Having said that,
>>> Muslim women are free to comply with or reject my advice, and their
>>> reckoning will be with Allah the Almighty.
>>> 4. By saying the "exposed meat" displayed in a degrading way is a
>>> simile for a woman making herself subject to abuse by men with
>>> diseased souls whose animalistic instincts will overcome them
>>> whereby they would abandon their humanity, mind and religion. These
>>> men are responsible for their crime.
>>> 5. The metaphor I used of the "exposed meat" was not appropriate 
for 
>>> the western mentality. It has been quoted and misinterpreted by 
some 
>>> groups with ill intentions. This metaphor was used in a private 
>>> lesson given inside the mosque after the Taraweeh (optional night) 
>>> prayers on the fourth day of Ramadan. It was meant for the Muslim 
>>> attendees at the mosque and not the general public and particularly 
>>> not the general women of our Australian society.
>>> Apart from the above-mentioned facts, I would like to make it known
>>> to all my brothers and sisters in and out of Australia that:
>>> After the Taraweeh (optional night) prayers on 27/09/2006 at the
>>> Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, Australia, I gave a lesson to the members
>>> of the Islamic community of Australia, the title of which was: "Why
>>> did Allah, the Almighty, mention 'man' before 'woman' in the crime
>>> of theft? as is quoted in the Quran: ((As for) the thief, the male
>>> and the female, ...) (Al-Ma-idah 5.38) while he mentioned 'woman'
>>> before 'man' in the crime of adultery?, as is quoted in the Quran:
>>> (The woman and the man found guilty of adultery or fornication,...)
>>> (An-Nur 24.2)".
>>> This lesson lasted approximately 15 minutes, 10 minutes of these
>>> were spent on explaining the meaning of the first verse, and the
>>> remaining time was spent on giving advice and guidance relating to
>>> the way a woman dresses and the methods of seduction and the beauty
>>> given to her by the Almighty Allah. I emphasised that exceeding the
>>> limits in this regard is dangerous to both men and women; and that
>>> the devil exploits these charms of seduction to tempt both men and
>>> women to commit adultery and fornication. In this case, both men
and
>>> women are committing a sin. So the topic did not deal with the 
crime 
>>> of rape.
>>> At the end of the lesson when I was explaining the reason why
>>> 'woman' was mentioned before 'man' in the verse dealing with the
>>> crime of adultery, I said it was because she possessed the charm,
>>> the methods of seduction and all similar devices given to her by
>>> Allah to tempt the man. For that I borrowed a metaphor used by an 
>>> author called Ar-Rifa'i. He said exposing the meat in an illicit 
way 
>>> would encourage the cats to devour it. I didn't mean by that to 
>>> humiliate immodest women; I meant to censure the person who would 
>>> abandon his humility and turn into a vicious animal; and there's a 
>>> big difference between a cat's behaviour and that of a human's, as 
>>> the latter is commanded and responsible for their actions.
>>> I confess that this analogy is inappropriate and unacceptable for
>>> the Australian society and the western society in general.
>>> I am deeply saddened and distressed by the acts of some devious
>>> groups which lurk in the dark watching me, and who cannot tolerate
>>> the moderate, balanced way which I adopt to advocate for women's
>>> issues, national harmony and co-existence, and to hold fast to the
>>> love of our Australian home, to protect it from all forms of
extreme
>>> thoughts and to reject all acts of violence and any act that
>>> breaches the rule of law.
>>> Yes, I feel deeply saddened that such an ordinary lesson has been
>>> used to slander and defame me after it had been translated with the
>>> ill intention of dubious media that wishes to incite and they
>>> present an unfair campaign, the aims of which are very well known.
>>> Once again, I turn to all the women of Australia and the world. You 
>>> are the shining lights of the world, you are more than half of the 
>>> society, and you are the daughters, the sisters, the mothers and 
the 
>>> aunts. How could any sane person think of humiliating you?
>>> You are the cherished pearls, the dearest thing in the world. So 
>>> don't be taken as offerings at the temples of the merchants of 
>>> pleasure, or advocates of decadence and corruption.
>>> Each one of us is responsible for accounting for his or her own
>>> actions before he or she is asked about them by the almighty Allah
>>> (on the Day of Judgment). Once again I am very sorry and apologise
>>> for what resulted from an unintentional analogy.
>>> With all my respect to the women of the world.
>>> In due course I will take the necessary decision that shall lift
the
>>> pressures that have been placed on our Australian Muslim community
>>> and that which will benefit all Australians.
>>> The pressure of the last couple of days has had an obvious effect
on
>>> my health and well-being. I ask the public to give my family and I
>>> some privacy, time and space to recover. I have also asked for 
>>> indefinite leave from my duties at Lakemba mosque.

>>> Sincerely,
>>> Sheikh Taj El-Deen El-Hilali
>>> Mufti Of Australia

Credit goes to my sister Shabia A.M. and brother Shiraz Ali-Patel (secretary of MUIS 2006) for extracting the respective letters. Jazakumullahu khayr.

Wassalamualaikum.

Legendary. Sure. Right. Whatever.

Assalamualaikum wrh. wbt.

I have heard many myths about the land I consider my hometown, Kelantan (or Pasir Mas, if you’re into specifics).

Among them are that Kelantanese only enjoy sweet cooking i.e. substitute salt for sugar.

(Ardently agreed upon by many of my ukhti during our routine sojourns in the kitchen.)

Well. I can’t tell the diff, since I grew up with a Kelantanese tongue, anyway. I still feel other states have sweeter foods, and that they’re more obsessed with sirap (bandung optional), which I still can’t understand to this day.

(Why sirap ros with everything?)

And another infamous one is that Kelantanese women are the depiction of the Malay ideal for beauty, i.e. fair-skinned, hidung mancung, nicely-figured, impeccable bone structure, etc.

Which I find completely ridiculous. Although I have photographic evidence that the following traits do lie in my bloodline. I just didn’t get any of the genes. Or maybe I did, but they are all recessive, when compared to the more dominant alleles from my father’s typically Chinese genome. Or maybe there’s some sort of pleiotropy, or masking of the genes, involved in the makings of me.

Allahu’alam.

(My Genetics paper is first up next week. Do pray for me.)

I am quite syukur with what I have, thanks. Astigmatism, or no astigmatism.

But what I find disturbing is that as a nation, we’re so obsessed with beauty. And I’m not talking about the deep-instilled, beauty from within kind. Oh no sirree.

I’m talking about the stereotypical kind aforementioned above.

It’s sad and degrading, to want to be known, merely for how you look.
It’s as if they don’t even understand that women are not mere sex objects, and that we want to be acknowledged for what we do, and not what we look like.
Don’t they know that the face can mask such ugliness that lies within?
How much can a person be satisfied by looks and physical charm?

Which is why I feel the hijab, and especially the niqab (for those who prefer it), is a tool for liberation. Because I’ve seen the effect it gives on people (esp. men) around me (i.e. in Australia, where donning the hijab actually earns you unspoken respect, unlike in LITW), who view it as a shield of sorts between me and non-hijabis. Because guys can’t oogle over my dress size, they choose to sit up and listen when I speak.

(The politically correct ones, anyway)

Their view of me is based on what I can do, rather than how I look. Or at the very least, it does not overshadow my capabilities as a functioning human being. Which is very liberating for a teenaged girl.

Feminists should try it, instead of not shaving. Much more hygienic.

But seriously. I think that us hijabis also forget this underlying law of donning the hijab:

That it’s only when we choose to not really care (as much) over what we look like, that others will do the same.

And yet we should always remember that as muslimah, Allah likes us to be neat and presentable and clean. And that we can be beautiful, but not in a showy kind of way.

“Is this too tabarruj?”

And when we understand what beauty truly means, we can work towards it, insyaAllah.

Wassalamualaik.