Why We Dress As We Do

In today's world, advertising is the fuel that drives the fashion-conscious to discern what's hot and what's not. If we look at fashion today, what is deemed modern and "with it" is what is glamorously exhibited on the catwalks of Milan and New York and splashed across bold fashion magazines. The must-have mentality, coupled with intense advertising, propels the hypnotized shopper into a frenzy and she just has to spend a lot of money on fabric or clothes that have convinced her that if she wears such things she's hot and has style.

clipped from www.islamonline.net When Islam ordained woman to cover her hair and to dress modestly, it was not to infringe on her rights and impede her freedom, but rather to grant her the dignity and respect that she deserves. The Islamic dress code enables the woman to have an independent identity that is far removed from the dictates of fashion. Wearing hijab does not mean abandoning a sense of style. While traditional values hold that modest dress entails bland colors, particularly black, Islam does not prescribe any particular color. In fact it is more liberal towards women with regard to color than men. In fact, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade men from wearing yellow, while these colors are permissible to women.

Dressed to Impress?

It quite amazing how fashion, particularly woman's fashion. can conjure numerous discussions that fuel even further discussions and debates! From the catwalks of Paris and New York to the paved deserts of Arabia, the clothes donned by men and women have been viewed negatively and positively, either way.

Who dictates what is fashionable and what is not depends on where in the world you came from. If you are from West Africa, for instance, bright colors, long dresses, and fancy headgear usually dominate the fashion scene. If you are from Pakistan, it may be the beautiful salwar karneez that defines a keen fashion sense. And if you subscribe to some extreme Western fashion trends, the norm is to pay often-exorbitant prices to wear as little as possible and leave almost nothing to the imagination!

Over the past few years, however, we have seen an increasing number of young Muslim women donning the headscarf and dressing more modestly than before. While this may more than irk supporters of "liberal" fashion, the trend seems to be growing. While men's fashion practically never dominates the headlines, women's fashion is deeply entrenched in social and economic spheres.

Different Reasons

Have you ever consciously asked yourself, "Why do I dress the way I do?" Is it for the religious reason, cultural reasons, or social reasons? Is your sense of dress influenced by your faith, your nationality, or your society/community? Are you influenced by local or international fashion trends?

clipped from www.islamonline.net Over the past few years, however, staggering debate has surrounded the issue of Muslim women's dress, and what is quite fascinating is that much of the debate is dominated mostly by non-Muslims, some of who consider the complete covering of a woman's body as oppressive, others seem to understand the logic behind it, and others remain indifferent, accepting that dressing in such a way is an individual's decision. Fashion is something that will never die out. Directly or indirectly, consciously or subconsciously, people will always be influence one way or another by it. Fashion trends seem to move at a rapid pace, and many young people find themselves feeling pressurized into keeping up with the latest trends. Few may find themselves unperturbed by all the fuss. Whereas some may argue that while fashion is all about making people look good, it can become a problem when it influences people's self-esteem.

Kisah Nenek Pemungut Daun

Ini ada kisah menarik dari sebuah buku yang saya baca. Semuga menjadikan kita semakin mencintai Nabi Muhammad, Rasullullah SAW. Allahuma Sholi ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad.

Dahulu di sebuah kota di Madura, ada seorang nenek tua penjual bunga cempaka. Ia menjual bunganya di pasar, setelah berjalan kaki cukup jauh.Usai jualan, ia pergi ke Masjid Agung di kota itu. Ia berwudhu, masuk Masjid, dan melakukan solat Zhuhur. Setelah membaca wirid sekedarnya, ia keluar Masjid dan membungkuk-bungkuk di halaman masjid. Ia mengumpulkan dedaunan yang berceceran di halaman masjid. Selembar demi selembar dikaisnya. Tidak satu lembar pun ia lewatkan. Tentu saja agak lama ia membersihkan halaman masjid dengan cara itu. Padahal matahari Madura di siang hari sungguh menyegat. Keringatnya membasahi seluruh tubuhnya.

Banyak pengunjung masjid jatuh iba kepadanya. Pada suatu hari Takmir masjid memutuskan untuk membersihkan dedaunan itu sebelum perempuan tua itu datang.

Pada hari itu, ia datang dan langsung masuk masjid. Usai solat, ketika ia ingin melakukan pekerjaan rutinnya, ia terkejut. Tidak ada satu pun daun terserak di situ. Ia kembali lagi ke masjid dan menangis dengan keras. Ia mempertanyakan mengapa daun-daun itu sudah isapukan sebelum kedatangannya. Orang-orang menjelaskan bahwa mereka kasihan kepadanya. "Jika kalian kasihan kepadaku," kata nenek itu, "Berikan kesempatan kepadaku untuk membersihkannya."

Singkat cerita, nenek itu di biarkan mengumpulkan dedaunan itu seperti biasa. Seorang Kiai terhormat diminta untuk menanyakan kepada perempuan itu mengapa ia begitu bersemangat membersihkan dedaunan itu. Perempuan tua itu mau menjelaskan sebabnya dengan dua syarat: pertama, hanya Kiai yang mendengarkan rahsianya; kedua,rahsia itu tidak boleh disebarkan ketika ia masih hidup. Sekarang ia sudah meninggal dunia, dan anda dapat memperdengarkan rahsia itu.

clipped from www.dudung.net "Saya ini perempuan bodoh, pak Kiai," tuturnya. "Saya tahu amal-amal saya yang kecil itu mungkin juga tidak benar saya jalankan. Saya tidak mungkin selamat pada hari akhirat tanpa syafaat Kanjeng Nabi Muhammad. Setiap kali saya mengambil selembar daun, saya ucapkan satu salawat kepada Rasulullah. Kelak jika saya mati, saya ingin Kanjeng Nabi menjemput saya. Biarlah semua daun itu bersaksi bahwa saya membacakan salawat kepadanya." Kisah ini saya dengar dari Kiai Madura, D. Zawawi Imran, membuat bulu kuduk saya� merinding. Perempuan tua dari kampung itu bukan saja mengungkapkan cinta Rasul dalam bentuknya yang tulus. Ia juga menunjukkan kerendahan hati, kehinaan diri, dan keterbatasan amal dihadapan Alloh swt. Lebih dari itu, ia juga memiliki kesadaran spiritual yang luhur: Ia tidak dapat mengandalkan amalnya. Ia sangat bergantung pada rahmat Alloh. Dan siapa lagi yang menjadi rahmat semua alam selain Rasululloh saw?

Bila Kuburan Diagungkan Bah.1 & Bah.2

clipped from www.darussalaf.org Bila Kuburan Diagungkan Bag.1 Rabu, 15 Agustus 2007 - 05:00 PM Ibnul Qayyim rahimahullah mengatakan: “Termasuk dari tipu daya setan yang telah menimpa mayoritas orang sehingga tidak ada seorangpun yang selamat-kecuali orang-orang yang dipelihara oleh Allah- yaitu “Apa-apa yang telah dibisikkan para setan kepada wali-walinya berupa fitnah kuburan.” (Ighatsatul Lahfan, 1/182) Dibaca 493   [Lanjutkan..] Bila Kuburan Diagungkan, Bag-2 Sabtu, 18 Agustus 2007 - 05:00 PM, Penulis: Al Ustadz Abu Usamah bin Rawiyah An Nawawi Ziarah yang menjatuhkan pelakunya ke dalam kesyirikan seperti berdoa kepada penghuninya, menyembelih, bernadzar, meminta pertolongan, perlindungan, meminta diturunkannya hujan, kesembuhan, terpelihara dari musuh, malapetaka, dan sebagainya dari jenis-jenis kesyirikan Dibaca 438   [Lanjutkan..]

Menebar Pesona , Menuai Petaka

sila klik Lanjutkan untuk bacaan seterusnya

clipped from www.darussalaf.org Menebar Pesona, Menuai Petaka Senin, 29 Oktober 2007 - 05:00 PM, Penulis: Ummu 'Abdirrahman Anisah bintu 'Imran Atas nama "keindahan", fisik wanita telah dieksploitasi sedemikian rupa. Hampir tak ada ruang publik yang di dalamnya tidak ditonjolkan keindahan fisik (baca: aurat) kaum hawa. Televisi, internet, dan media cetak pun menjadi sarana yang sangat efektif untuk menebar pesonanya. Dibaca 85   [Lanjutkan..] Dimanakah Kiblatnya Doa ? Jumat, 26 Oktober 2007 - 05:00 PM, Penulis: Asy Syaikh ‘Abdurrozzaq ‘Afify hafizhohullah Tanya : Di manakah kiblatnya do’a ? Dibaca 149   [Lanjutkan..]

A Glimpse at Early Women Islamic Scholars

From the very beginning of the human saga, Allah makes it quite clear that men and women are equal being created from one single soul, sharing the same father and mother , and subservient unto the same Lord. The verse mentioned above came to the Messenger of Allah ( peace and blessing be upon him ) at a time when women were being humiliated and tortured.

Allah says: [ and when the female child, buried alive, will be asked: For what sin was she killed ] ( At-Takwir 81:8-9) This refer to an ancient practice of the Arabs ( and even some modern societies through abortion) who would kill their female children from fear of being humiliated in the community, or out of fear that they would not have the means to provide for them.

Islam came to eradicate these ignorant practices, amongst others, and after twenty-three years of prophetic teachings, it had conferred unto women a status that was previously unthinkable.

clipped from www.readingislam.com The following is a transcript of a lecture delivered by Dr. Mohammad Akram Nadwi, a Research Fellow in Oxford University's Centre for Islamic Studies, on the role of women scholars in preserving and transmitting prophetic tradition (Hadith) in Islam. The original transcript has been edited by Imam Zaid Shakir to enhance readability. [O Mankind! Fear your Lord who has created you from a single soul, and from it He created its mate; and from them both, He brought forth multitudes of men and women. Be mindful of Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and revere the wombs that bore you. Surely, Allah is ever watching over you.] (An-Nisaa' 4:1) Both men and women today need to revive the rich Islamic heritage of Muslim women scholars. This independence in faith is exemplified by the fact that the wives of Noah and Lot (peace upon them) both rejected faith. Hence, the Qur'an affirms that even the wife of a Prophet is free to believe or disbelieve.

A Visit Hard To Forget

A Young Muslim Woman Visits the Prophet's Mosque

" I'm here, I'm finally here,All praise to God who brought me here again."

These are usually the first words I utter as soon as my ayes fall on the minarets of Prophet Muhammad's mosque on my way from the airport to the hotel in Madinah.

Throughout my ride, I keep staring out of the window of the bus trying to catch a glimpse from a distance of Prophet Muhammad's mosque.

clipped from www.readingislam.com The Prophet's mosque at dawn. Picture courtesy: Neveen Shedid I've been visiting Madinah every Ramadan for the last fifteen years. I believe this is a great blessing from God because once your feet step on the ground there, you feel what thousands of pictures cannot tell or transfer: the spirit of Madinah, Prophet Muhammad's city. "Once your feet step on the ground there, you feel what thousands of pictures can't tell..."  And I pray: "Oh God, let my feet touch a spot Prophet Muhammad's feet once touched." "As I look at the faces of these women, I ponder at the amount of love they carry for a man they never met!"  A Garden From Paradise There are two timings for visiting Prophet's Muhammad grave for women, as the grave lies in the men's section of the mosque. As soon as the doors open for women to enter, hundreds and thousands of women rush towards the grave to try to pray in the area called Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah (the area now between Prophet Muhammad's grave and his pulpit).

Sense and Sensitivity

How to Accommodate New Converts

Aspects of the early years as a Muslim are all too often forgotten and ignored. This article may emerge as polemic outlook on Muslims' attempts to help those who have entered the fold of Islam. My aim is not to have a good moan at the Muslim community. That would be futile and only widen the gap that may already exist between us all.

I prefer to see this as one of those methods of self-development where to improve we must accept our faults, but to accept them we must first be aware of them.

clipped from www.readingislam.com Mosque near the centre of Glasgow, Scotland There are numerous articles on this site, as well as videos and books elsewhere to satiate us Muslims on the growth of Islam, giving us that ‘feel-good factor’ often needed in this Islamophobic milieu. But there is an issue that is too often ignored. What about how new Muslims, and prospective Muslims are dealt with in our communities? After people revert to Islam how do we go about advising, helping, guiding and most of all befriending them?? Is it a case of “You are on your now, you’ve said your shahada!” or, “Come to my house and meet the family, but there are a long list of does and don’ts you must follow.” As for knowledge and direction in Islam, it was delivered at a speedy rate. Probably it  was a rate that was just right for me at that time. I had been starved enough and I had a big appetite. But this was not the same for others.

The Love of Animals

clipped from www.readingislam.com Islam urges people to be respectful and merciful towards animals. The Prophet Muhammad taught mercy to all of God’s creation. There are many reports of his love for cats resulting in their historical acceptance among Muslims. Cats were very common among the people during the time of the Prophet, and he said, “They (cats) are not impure and they intermingle with you.”1 The cat is such a clean animal that according to authentic narrations one may make ablution for Prayer with the same water that a cat drank from. Yet, it is known that some people nowadays have opposed the traditions of the Prophet by taking up the evil practices of torturing and poisoning cats. In Islam, punishment for such acts is severe. Both Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported a hadith regarding a woman who locked up a cat, refusing to feed it and not releasing it so that it could feed itself. The Prophet Muhammad said that her punishment on the Day of Judgment will be torture and Hell.

Who Are Children of Jihad?

clipped from www.islamonline.net Question: A friend's first reaction when seeing the book cover was, "Why do you want to read something that was written by an American Jew about the Middle East?" So what do you have to say to those people? What makes your book any different than the many other books that have been written on the Middle East? Answer: People could have said the same thing to me , "As a Jewish person, why would you want to go to the Middle East?" My answer to your friend is that there are far too many stereotypes and misperceptions of different religions around the world. What I have found from my experience is that it doesn't matter what ones religion is, it doesn't matter what group they are affiliated with, I found in my travels throughout the Middle East that young people have more in common with me as a young American Jew than they do differences. This is probably the last thing that someone might expect to hear from someone with my background and this is why I think it is important.

Did You Miss Your Appointment Today?

clipped from www.islamonline.net If your best friend calls and asks to meet you in half an hour, you will hurry to meet your friend, even if you had been in the middle of something important. If you get the chance to make some money or meet an important person or go to some great place, you will organize yourself for days beforehand so that you don’t miss your chance. For one reason or another, a young person may not be in the habit of praying Fajr Prayer on time. Whatever that reason is, there is no time like the present to turn that habit around. Remember that for every step you take toward Allah, He promises to come many steps towards you. So make that first step by making up your mind that you will get up for Fajr Prayer every morning. Not realizing how important Fajr Prayer is Not yet developed a sound consciousness of Allah, so unaware of the significance of the next life Carried away with worldly pursuits Lazy Sleeps too late and so cannot get up There is no one in his house to urge him or her to get up

Hijab-Ez : Don't Bite My Back

clipped from www.islamonline.net Click here to Enlarge By  Linda Delgado , Shirley Anjum   Linda D. Delgado is a Muslim who lives in Arizona, United States. She is the mother of three and a grandmother of eight. She graduated from the University of Phoenix and is a retired state police sergeant. Also known as Widad, she is the publisher of Muslim Writers Publishing at www.MuslimWritersPublishing.com, founder of the Islamic Writers Alliance at www.islamicwritersalliance.net, the author of the award-winning Islamic Rose book series at www.widad-lld.com, and owner of the Islamic Rose store at http://www.cafepress.com/islamicrose.

I Don't Want to Wear Hijab Anymore!

clipped from www.islamonline.net Sixteen-year-old Hala sat stubbornly on her bed. She looked over at her hijab lying over the back of the chair and sighed. That small piece of cloth these days seemed to be affecting her life more than anyone could imagine. It had been some time since she and her mother had spoken — not because she did not want to speak, but because she did not know what to say. "I don't wanna wear hijab anymore." "Why?" "Because I'm not doing it for Allah. I'm just doing it to please you. I'm not getting any blessings for it." "Do you want me to agree that you disobey Allah? What do you think I should say to Allah when He asks me about you?" "I'll wear it again when it's coming sincerely from my heart." "But you can still wear it and work on your heart." "I can't do it that way." "If you did that you would be playing in Satan's hands. He will have won over you. You'd be the loser." "I'll wear it again, but not now."

Reflections- Hijab

clipped from www.islamonline.net What is the first thing that comes to your mind about hijab and the person who wears it? An extremist? A religious symbol? A bit to hard on yourself? A religion being hard on girls depriving them of their right of freedom? Hijab for me is a sign of purity and the way to preserve our beauty and purity for only one man. We wait all our lives till we find that one guy which Allah the Almighty has chosen for us. What a beautiful and refreshing feeling! Allah has made things easy for us by blessing us with the gift of hijab and by helping us follow the steps of how we can secure our inner and outer beauty which prevents us from being harassed and manipulated by society. Allah says: “He has not laid upon you in religion any hardship.” (Al-Hajj: 78) “Allah wishes to lighten the burden for you; for certainly man has been created weak!” (An-Nisa’: 28) Muslim women observe hijab (covering the head and the body) because Allah has told them to do so.

The Right Step-Hijab!

Do Not Hesitate!

clipped from www.islamonline.net In today's world, we find several young women hesitating to take the "hijab" step. They think millions of times before taking this decision. Many young women say, "I can not wear it before getting married"; “I might lose my job if I wear hijab"; or “I want to wear hijab but it will prevent me from life's pleasures, such as playing my favorite sport or wearing fashionable clothes". In fact, quite a few young women feel that the hijab acts as an obstacle for reaching their aims and aspirations in life, and hinders them from enjoying their life freely. The Right Choice Enjoy Your Life Wearing Hijab In terms of her career life, she owns an advertising company and her job as a business development manager requires that she deal with several multinational companies. "The hijab never hinders my career, in fact I’m so proud to wear it,” observes El Sharkawi. Responsibility