Dear Random Anonymous Islam-hating blog stalker

Dear Random Anonymous Islam-hating blog stalker:

For your comment "Stop Oppression Against Women" ...I do. You wrote "hahahahah respect?you get respect from men by covering yourself up? this is insane, do you believe it yourself? i hope not.don't you understand what you are doing? you are supporting oppression against women! men tell women to cover themselves up to gain respect. and you believe in it..lame." Well Anon, I gew up not covering and now I do cover, and non muslim men DO give me more respect so I feel my point is proven ALREADY. If you have doubts and you are an attractive young woman, find a pretty pink headscarf and a plain comfy black shoulder abaya, and wear it at your work for a month. You'll see a difference in the way the men treat you. You won't need any other proof. But even beyond that, I LIKE what I am wearing. I could says that sunglasses are more uncomfortable for me than a face veil, that skinny jeans are waaaay more misognynist than an abaya, and that high heels are DEFINATELY more uncomfortable and suppressive of a woman's ability to do sports or accomplish things than a headscarf. I like my clothes. Get over it. If I wasn't a Muslim and I told you the same thing (because I dressed this way BEFORE I was Muslim too because I found I liked it) would you believe it? Ask ex pat women living in Dubai? Most of them try out the charm and ease of abaya once in a while. I personally dress in a way that I want to---I feel pretty, modest, and comfortable in my clothes, no one forces me to wear them, and I do not force others. I do not support laws enforcing hijab. Hijab is a personal thing, between a woman and God, her Creator. If you don't believe in God, well then my blog probably isn't for you, but you have to understand all Muslims believe the Qu'ran is directly from God, and that books like the Bible and Torah are also sources (though we believe the Qu'ran is the only direct and uncorrupted source).


"Yeah girls are so pretty when men tell them what to wear. Independent girls are ugly Oppressed women are cute. " Personally anon, I go by the dictionary definition of suppressed, which is, those who have no choice are suppressed. Honestly I think alot of the girls forced to wear blue Afghan chadors with mesh (aka the burqa) were suppressed and I feel sad for them. Nothing in Islam ENFORCES hijab. So Taliban hijab style is waaaaaaay wrong. But a woman that chooses to wear a niqab and an abaya from her own beliefs and does so in a way I find pretty, 'course I'm gonna say her style is cute. But some sad looking singer rubbing her half-naked body on a bunch of dancers in a music video to sell more CDS when her own talent is enough to, I am going to say that is a kind of suppression too. It is like Elizabeth Taylor. Everyone loved her when she was young and beautiful and now she is overweight and in a wheel chair and that same media that loved her makes jokes about her??? Being enslaved to youth, form, and beauty is another kind of suppression, one hijab (from one's own choice and conviction) frees you from.

You commented "It is said in the qoran that a woman shall never get attention with jewelleries and make up. So why are you wearing islamic oppression-sheets when you are not muslims- apparently?" Why do you care for details and decoration when you are told to cover yourself up with blankets?It is said in the qoran that you shall not ask for attention. Then do not and be a woman." Um, anon, do you mean abayas??? If you've even worn one, you'll know they are as comfortable as pajamas, and not opressive at all. That's why so many ex-pat women in the Gulf are happy to wear them, running errands, under no compulsion, and not even for any religious reason. As for wearing jewelry and make-up and designs on clothing, nowhere in the Q'uran does it tell us not to do anything of things you claim it forbids in another one of your awesomely educated. Women in the Prophet Mohammed sallalahu alahi wa salaam's time used to wear makeup in the form of henna and kohl (both of which he encouraged), he also complimented a woman for the pretty but simple designs on her garment which shows that some design is OBVIOUSLY allowed in Islam, and jewelry? Women in Islam are allowed to wear gold and men are not. Women in the early days of Islam wore anklets that made alot of noise and attracted some sensual attention when the women danced or stamped their feet with the purpose of attracting that attention. The Q'uran commanded those women not to stamp their feet, it never forbid them from wearing jewelry. Educate yourself darling, please, because you come across as ignorant, hateful, and still wanting to do good for women at the same time.

Am I a savage? You are thinking like men of the old world did with the native Americans when they discovered the New world. That you need to SAVE me, by taking away my way of life, my freedom to believe in peace. I don't need you or anyone else to think for me or rescue me. I am not suppressed/repressed/ OR oppressed. In Islam sexuality is for a time and place where it is protected, A STABLE AND MATURE LONGTERM RELATIONSHIP WHERE BOTH PARTIES ARE BOTH LEGALLY PROTECTED (financially and logically) THAT BOTH PARTIES AGREE TO AND OUTLINE THE DETAILS THEREOF.

To your question "do you dress modest at home or flaunt about in an evening dress?" If I am by myself and just want to play dress up, or it is a special occasion with close women friends who won't feel any emotion but pride in my apearence praising Allah for my sake, or I want to look nice for my family who will also be happy if I look beautiful and can afford nice things, then I will wear an evening dress, or jeans and a tshirt, OR pajamas, or a modest jalabiyia. It is up to me. Islam is not a religion that says do something, such as feign piety or change everything you are, for no reason. Allah Himself has said, that He is beautiful and loves beauty. What God doesn't love is the kind of human pride that is to make other human beings feel less of themselves. No man or woman that feels even a dust grain's weight of this kind of belittling pride will enter paradise (aka heaven). If there unrelated men present, I'll wear hijab---of course, or if there are those women who will feel less because of something I can physically wear because of an attractive physical attribute or financial means that they could never attain, I will dress in a way that we are equal sisters.

Part of the Islamic dress code is that it promotes a brotherhood and sisterhood that marks men and women equal but for their piety and good deeds. We are also supposed to be obviously recognizable as Muslims, not resembling pagans, Jews, and Christians, which is, women cover their chests with the headscarf, and wear an overgarment over their regular clothes while not trying to get male attention by wearing over-the-top makeup and tight clothing or jingling their jewelry or strong perfumes, and men wear loose fitting clothing that covers their belly-button to thighs and best the shoulders and have beards at LEAST a fist length long and do not wear gold or silk or anything that shows financial and social status in public (that can nowadays include flaunting fancy cars and gold pens and rolexs---remember, the Prophet sallalalhu alahi wa salaam, when as Caliph, he could have ridden the finest horses of the Arabs, he rode a donkey).

I am tired of Non-Muslim women talking about how "the Muslim woman" feels

I am tired of non-muslim women (apostates count as this people along with Oprah et all) and especially Muslim AND non-muslim men, talking about how Muslim women feel. The speaker in this vid has the right idea. He's like, I am a man, and Barbara Walters and Hirsi Ali aren't Muslimahs, so go ask a Muslim woman how she veiws her life and her hijab.

"Hijabifying", the definition, in English

In the world of Islamic fashion blogging, a new word has come into existance: "Hijabify". We all use it, perhaps to the confusion and annoyance of some, and the applause and adoration of others. It means different things to different bloggers. Surprisingly, it is not on wikipedia yet, so I thought I'd help ya'll all out.

Hi.jab.i.fy. (hee-jab-i-fy)
most commonly used as a verb
ex. To hijabify this look you will need ...

1. To make high fashion and street wear into Islamic clothing by adapting it to cover the body parts required to be covered in the authentic sunnah (everything but the hands and face * see requirements of a Muslim Woman's Dress) in the manner required in the authentic sunnah (loose, not see-through, or for show and pride, and an overgarment *see requirements of a Muslim Woman's Dress), or taking inspiration from a non-Islamic source through colours and accessories but not straying from any of the requirements of a Muslim Woman's Dress.
2.) Slap a headscarf onto anything so long as there is no skin or very little skin showing.
3.) To make high fashion and street wear into Islamic clothing by adapting it to cover everything but the face and hands in a manner that is loose and not see-through, or taking inspiration from a non-Islamic source through colours and accessories but not straying from any of the requirements of a Muslim Woman's Dress.

My def. is the first one, because I read the command in the Qu'ran and the ahadiths. I respect the third one though I disagree with it on the grounds of modifying the Qu'ran to the extent of rejecting it, because at least it is thoughtfully-based on Islamic ideas and principles. Unfortunately, the second definition is FAR TOO COMMON in the hijab world. Say you take for inspiration the non-hijab picture below. You take the exact same dress and belt. You layer a skin-tight carina turtle-neck under it and skinny jeans under it. And you call it hijabifying it, even though, in Islam, this outfit you have created (first set, top of the page) BARES NONE OF the characteristics of Islamic hijab since it conceals nothing but the skin. It actually does not hide the body parts. Clothed but naked. As labelled in the hijabified-but-not-anything-to-do-with-hijab-but-scarf hijab set, a. the cut of the top/dress emphasises the bust line and cleavage width, b. the belt ephasizes the waist and thus the hips and butt and bust-line, c. the only-thing overgarment about it is from the ribcage to the thigh, and d. as much as I hate it to say it because I think all covering is good, the outfit would be more modest without the headscarf and the tight jeans. You'd just look like a cute, pretty girl, rather than sexy Muslimah. Sexy in the sexual tense cannot be comprised with "hijab" in any Islamic sense. If you have no clothes but such dresses and skinny jeans and can't afford new clothes inshaAllah PLEASE contact fellow sisters (feel free even to leave a comment here on this blog) and I will do my best to get you some more modest attire, and Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala accepts you intentions. If you're not in the third world though, and you've been Muslim for over two years (past puberty), this form of bad hijab isn't excusable anymore.

So what if you loosen up? If you have a hard time finding loose skirts and dresses in suitable non-clingy fabrics or jilbabs, this look is quite acceptable and pretty modest (I personally don't think it is dressing according to the sunnah but I do think it is modest). Wide-leg trouser pants, full-sleeved top, long top over top and loose top over the bust (girls often use shrugs). Um, a. just loose the belt and make sure your hijab covers your chest, and b. know the jilbab [an overgarment] is of the sunnah and is a command in the Qu'ran for the believing women.

I really think this here on below, the third set, is the best example of "hijabifying" since it is using clothing that is, on its own as peices, unislamic in what and how it covers, but combined, it actually forms a modest overgarment. As you can see, the belt has been lost and the pink of the inspiration peice has been replaced in the skirt and with the clutch. A long light sweater shrug flows loosely away from the body, drawing attention away from the curves of a woman's body, and the hijab aka khimar (the proper word for the headscarf is khimar and not hijab) is pulled over the chest as the Qu'ran commands the believing women to do.

Now, "hijabifying" can also be done to traditionally Islamic clothing (ha ha ha, I love this cuz I find it easier and I end up spending less money and being more comfortable in my clothes but to each their own) by taking a jilbab or long khimar, ect, and using a non-Islamic inspiration source, use some of the colours and accessories from the look to make a "halal-take" on the style. For example, instead of using a belt, I would take the colour of the belt and use a clutch. Instead of the earrings, a ring. This post took a long time to do, so I am tired and off to bed:D

Satin bisht abaya from http://www.sunnahstyle.com/product_info.php?pName=silk-elegance-bisht-abaya&cName=abayas-other-styles for $56.99 USD.

Turkish Hijab Styles

The Qu'ran is very specific about how the hijab/khimar (as in the headscarf) should be worn. It says we should pull the headress down so that it covers our jube (chests---the va va voom ladies). If you are not covering your chest with your hijab you are not wearing Islamic hijab. I hate to break it to you but you are wearing Christian hijab. Jewish women were supposed to cover their hair, and the Christian women to cover the hair (their wrap style was often so that the neck and hair were covered but not the chests). I'll do a post on the differences inshaAllah.

I love the bright styles and European aura Turkish hijab styles give, but the one thing I can't stand about them is often the lack of chest coverage in the fashion shots. I can always wrap my turkish hijab to give lots of chest coverage, but I wanted to share this Turkish hijab fashion pic that shows some more than awesome chest coverage. Do you like? Would you wear this style?

And to answer Inspired Muslimah's question in the comment section, I don't think an Al-Amira counts as hijab if it isn't long enough to cover the chest also. I always wear an al-amira under my shaylas to get the coverage I am supposed to have.

NON MUSLIM Q: do you dress like that at home?

Non-muslim question, one I have heard from strangers on the street, to co-workers that I have worked with for over two years: do you dress like that at home? Meaning, do I cover head to toe in abaya, and do I shower and sleep in my hijab.

Answer is....... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! LOL. You guys are so cute.

For those who have known me in the staff room for over two years, of course not. You know I like to talk about your new highlights, and compliment your tank tops and nailpolish. If I lived in my abayas and hijabs I would never care about your cute capris or where you got your high-lights done, and how much it cost, ect ect. I only wear hijab and loose modest clothing in front of non-mahram men (men that theoretically it would be medically and morally permissable for me to marry). If the only male co-workers and bosses and clients we all had ladies was my milk-brother S, I would only wear my abaya to work, and then I would hang it up. When you see how I dress underneath my abayas (when I feel like it-with abaya you have a choice of what you want to do in terms of effort and ease) it would click on your heads that I read Vogue more than ya'll and the only thing I am interested in, in the gossip pages you love to buy, is whowhatwear page. I like fashion. I like art. I like beauty. (I THINK GOSSIP IS TRASHY and I know when ya'll are talking about me as if you feel sorry for because I dyed my hair red and ya'll can't see it---Tracey and Erin and others you are excused from this). LOL, I don't shower in it, and yes, my husband has seen my hair AND body. He is also well aware of my fashion sense, and encourages me to express myself however I see fit.

I am a bit more dressy than most, and eclectic, and I can get away with wearing pretty much anything because as all you co-workers are aware, I can eat and eat and eat and I am still in danger of losing more weight and fitting less size zeros than Kate Moss (health issues all, that have taught me to value food). Anyways, I am a dress-up girl, part explorer, part lady, part come what-ever-i-like little girl. My style before Islam was a little more modest than I like to dress now, because back then, I didn't have the sheild of the abaya, and I didn't want to expose my body or playful parts of my personality (and femininity) for the reality that people would focus on only one aspect of who I am, or misjudge me, or abuse my character in some way. I now have the freedom to determine where and when I am what and who I am to the fullest, safely, and with self-respect.

LOL the outfit pictured above is an outfit I own than I am going to wear on wednesday (it could be tacky but on me it isn't soooo I am going with it till trends change:D). The items are a little different but the composition is the same. I have a pink plaid chiffon top (but mine has a tie-neck unlike the set one), and I am wearing it with white lace-trimmed capri tights and a white pouf mini from Jacobs. I am playing with white lace fingerless gloves, a black jewel bib necklace, a heart shaped bag, crystal cuffs and bracelets, suede chunky pumps, red lipstick, smoky eyeshadow and my hair braided to the side, with pink satin ribbon woven through it. It looks somewhat sexy, very playful, and more cute than all that. I wear and abaya over top and a coloured pashmina, and the same bag, and ya never know. I could also be wearing my pajamas under it all.Question: DO I RESENT that MUSLIM MEN (including my husband) can WEAR STORE CLOTHES in the HOME and ON THE STREET?

Not the way my husband dresses I don't. He always covers his awrah, and while he is less into sunnah dressing than me, he always covers what he's supposed to (shoulder, belly-button, sexy abbs). My husband is almost always in long sleeves, and he is always scented nice, and when he goes swimming, he covers his stomach and chest with a surf suit because that is more modest, and he doesn't want women checking out his physical beauty and more than I want men other than the love of my life seeing MY beauty and personality and sexuality. My husband likes fashion and shopping (more than most Canadian men I know), and he's a fan of graphic tees, vests, blazers, fedoras, scarves round the neck, and sneakers (he's got more shoes than I do but I am competing in purses). The two of us share my pink shemagh (and I'm happy that I got a man that isn't afraid to wear pink). I still would prefer him to wear a thobe and ghutra in the West, but I am not gonna pressure him, like he never pressured me to wear abaya or even hijab. After all, he is very stringent on the sunnah of using miswaak and rinsing the mouth and smelling all good. Alhamdulilah, he has always been more on with me to do the fard obligations than the sunnah of the fard but he couldn't care less if I wore a pink dishdasha over a black abaya in the West. He worries about my safety and wishes I'd wear less black and seems afraid that I might someday wear niqab here and get attacked by neo nazis, but he supports me when I feel strongly on an issue so long as I am doing everything more important than that particular idea in my head already. For example, before I wear niqab, he'd like to see me ALWAYS praying nafl. Muslim men have hijab too. Their hijab is to lower their gaze, and cover their awrah, and then fulfill their other obligations, and then do all the sunnah they can. I DO resent Muslim men who wear bathing suits that expose their awrah while their wives are in full niqab on the beach, or who dress like male models and leer at women while their sisters and mothers are well-behaved at home. THESE MEN I bare my TEETH for. And I DETEST. DETEST UTTERLY AND COMPLETELY. These fools and tools are the reason I appreciate one of the aspects of my hijab, although my hijab is more than an aspect of "sheild".LOL, and I had to include this, because inshaAllah the daughter I have will have my husband's curly hair (he says inshaAllah not) and his complexion (this he says sure but hopes she gets my weirdo eyes). I will teach my daughter that hijab is something that deserves respect and is a grown up thing. One that represents her freedom as a woman to move about in the world and make her own decisions. Underneath of that responsibility (and true freedom is at the same time the most dire responsibility) she can be safe to show every aspect that she is, and develop all facets of herself without impediment.