Muslims

[UmmSqueakster 54]

UmmSqueakster - I've seen the tafsir before and while helpful and part of what I'm looking for it's not totally. I really don't think that anything exists for what I'm looking for - I'm thinking of putting it together myself!

I think I know what you have in mind, and I concur that nothing like it probably exists. I wonder if anyone is planning on making something like that? The english muslim book market is really growing, and that seems like something that would have a good niche.

I do really like the Mariful Quran for studying, although nothing beats a good teacher or knowledgable discussion partner. I like to read the Qur'an with the husband, because when he reads it, he stops, ponders, and can have a good 30 minute discussion on a single ayah. Me, I tend to just read and slip into auto pilot.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

re: covering

For anyone interested, there's an multi-faith covering group on yahoo called Covered Women 4 God. I haven't been active in it for awhile, but if memory serves me correctly, it's mainly muslims, but with a decent number of christians and a few jewish women who cover.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Random books available to download that I like:

Adab Mufrad - a collection of hadith put together by Imam Bukhari on the subject of adab, proper manners/etiquette. In this collection, he had a less rigorous standard then he did in his sahih collection, so there are a few weak hadith.

Riyadus Saleheen - Imam Nawawi's collection of hadith, the Gardens of the Righteous.

Both of the above are translated by Aisha Bewley.

Duas from the Quran and Sunnah

[childress_london 3]

The wig thing confuses me, granted it's not your hair, but it's still hair....I dunno to each their own I guess!!!

UmmSqueakster - I've seen the tafsir before and while helpful and part of what I'm looking for it's not totally. I really don't think that anything exists for what I'm looking for - I'm thinking of putting it together myself!

The wig thing confuses me too. It would depend on the reason for covering your hair. I always thought covering the hair was for modesty and to reduce the attractiveness of the woman so that men would not be tempted. If this is the case, then wearing a wig really does not serve that purpose. Why would you cover your hair with more hair and say you are following the rule? I'm confused.

[Nothing1234 2]

The wig thing confuses me, granted it's not your hair, but it's still hair....I dunno to each their own I guess!!!

UmmSqueakster - I've seen the tafsir before and while helpful and part of what I'm looking for it's not totally. I really don't think that anything exists for what I'm looking for - I'm thinking of putting it together myself!

The wig thing confuses me too. It would depend on the reason for covering your hair. I always thought covering the hair was for modesty and to reduce the attractiveness of the woman so that men would not be tempted. If this is the case, then wearing a wig really does not serve that purpose. Why would you cover your hair with more hair and say you are following the rule? I'm confused.

Dunno! I thought she was ill...that was my first guess.

[sereia 0]

I don't understand the wig covering either. I even met a girl who told me her friend had a wig made of her OWN hair she cut off! LOL

This is what I just read from another source: source

Kerchief or Wig

So long as the hair covering accomplishes its purpose of concealing the matter to protect the energy it really doesn’t make a difference what type of covering it is.

Some people prefer a kerchief because it is less attractive and therefore less likely to be seductive. On the other hand, a kerchief is not always completely concealing. Some people therefore prefer the wig because it is completely concealing and does not slide back or move around. As for the fact that it can be very attractive, there is a difference between attractive and seductive. While a woman may not be seductive she sure may look attractive.

Whereas a man covers his hair (with a Kipah) to remind him of what is above, a woman covers her hair to remind her of what is within.

More importantly, as beautiful and natural as a wig may be it is still "synthetic", because it is no longer connected to the energy source. It thus poses none of the above spiritual threats, and it functions as a wholesome protector of the woman’s authentic hair and spiritual energy.

Edited February 19, 2009 by sereia

[HLM 1]

I don't understand the wig covering either. I even met a girl who told me her friend had a wig made of her OWN hair she cut off! LOL

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Interesting explanation of the wig:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5690

That anthropologist has not only mistaken a wig for real hair, but has also confused true modesty for his own version. He equates modesty with unattractiveness, but that is his definition, not Judaism's. From the Jewish perspective, modesty has nothing to do with being unattractive. Rather, modesty is a means to create privacy. And that is what a wig achieves.

...

The hair-covering has a profound effect on the wearer. It creates a psychological barrier, a cognitive distance between her and strangers. Her beauty becomes visible, but inconspicuous; she is attractive, but unavailable.

The wig achieves the desired effect exactly, because a wig allows a woman to cover all her hair, while maintaining her attractive appearance. She can be proud of the way she looks without compromising her privacy. And even if her wig looks so real as to be mistaken for natural hair, she knows that no one is looking at the real her. She has created a private space, and only she decides who to let into that space.

I'd be interested to hear an anthropological approach to this as well, if this definition of modesty that the rabbi is talking about has developed and changed over time.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 18, 2009

Media contact: Wajahat Ali, 510-909-7506, wajahatmali@hotmail.com

American Muslims Call for Swift Action Against Domestic Violence

Murder of Buffalo resident Aasiya Zubair spurs American Muslims to forcefully address domestic abuse and violence against women; call on imams to address DV in Friday sermons

SAN FRANCISCO - A coalition of Muslim organizations, journalists, community leaders, imams, and other concerned citizens are calling for immediate action by American Muslim leaders and religious figures to address domestic abuse and violence in America, including that found in the American Muslim community, on Friday, February 20, 2009.

In response to the collective concern of the American Muslim community, imams and religious leaders across America have been asked to speak out against domestic violence to their congregations. They are asked to remind congregants of the Prophet Muhammad's abhorrence of harshness, abuse and violence, and emphasize solutions that strengthen families and ensure all members are treated with fairness and respect, free of fear of abuse or violence.

Members of the coalition are contacting imams and religious leaders in major Islamic centers and mosques. They are encouraging sermons addressing domestic violence and are offering resources available through the Peaceful Families Project, a Muslim-run domestic violence prevention organization founded in 2000, to help educate the American Muslim community. This education addresses the extent to which domestic violence exists and strategies to stop it.

Several prominent imams have heeded the call to action by concerned American Muslims including Shaykh Hamza Yusuf of the Zaytuna Institute in Berkeley, Ca. and Imam Tahir Anwar of the South Bay Islamic Association in San Jose, Ca. These imams have committed their Friday sermons to addressing domestic violence and preaching that in the Islamic tradition and by the example of the Prophet Muhammad, family harmony can never be achieved by force and that emotional and physical abuse is never acceptable.

This call is being broadcast through various channels, including blogs, Facebook groups, personal contacts, and news media. "The outcry among Muslim Americans against this type of violence is a heartfelt one," said Shahed Amanullah, editor-in-chief of the online newsmagazine altmuslim.com. "It is essential that we address the problem and take steps to ensure that no one else faces the same tragic fate as Ms. Zubair."

Specific calls to action for imams and religious leaders include:

1. Unequivocally denounce domestic violence and any attitudes that enable or excuse it
2. Remind Muslims that the Prophet Muhammad condemned with unequivocal language all forms of spousal abuse.
3. Immediately create community social service committees made up of qualified social service providers to supply educational resources and staff institutional programs that support abused and battered women.
4. Promote educational and awareness programs that outline abusive and violent behaviors.
5. Allow community members ways of pointing out and preventing the emergence or escalation of possibly abusive relationships and environments

Individuals and organizations helping to organize this call (partial list, titles for identification purposes only):

• Salma Abugideri, Peaceful Families Project
• Wajahat Ali, Playwright, Attorney and Journalist, domesticcrusaders.com
• Shahed Amanullah, editor-in-chief of the online newsmagazine altmuslim.com
• Zeba Iqbal, Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals
• Ruby Khan, Director, Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services
• Dr. Aminah McCloud, Professor of Islamic Studies, DePaul University
• Hussein Rashid, Visiting Professor, Hofstra University, husseinrashid.com

Mosques, imams, and organizations confirmed to have joined this effort (partial list):

• Arab American Association of New York (New York, NY)
• Arab Muslim American Federation (New York, New York)
• Council of the Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago - Imam Abdul Malik Muhajid
• Islamic Society of San Francisco - Imam Khalid Siddiqui
• Islamic House of Wisdom (Dearborn, MI) - Imam Mohammad Elahi
• Islamic Center of Greater Lansing (Detroit, MI) - Imam Dawud Walid
• South Bay Islamic Association (San Jose, CA) - Imam Tahir Anwar
• The Islamic Center at New York University - Haroon Moghul
• Zaytuna Institute (Berkeley, CA) - Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

Resources for the media regarding Muslim efforts to confront domestic violence:

• ACCESS (Michigan): www.accesscommunity.org
• Apna Ghar (Chicago): www.apnaghar.org
• Central Texas Muslimaat (Austin, Texas): http://www.ctmaustin.org
• Domestic Violence Resources for Muslims: http://www.crescentlife.com/psychissues/domestic_violence.htm
• Facebook Call to Action: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=54807221754
• Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services (Chicago): http://www.hamdardcenter.org
• Manavi (New York, NY): http://www.manavi.org
• Muslims For Progressive Values (Los Angeles): http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/mpv-dv
• Narika (San Francisco): http://www.narika.org
• North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused (San Francisco): http://www.ask-nisa.org
• Peaceful Families Project: www.peacefulfamilies.org
• Sakhi (New York, NY): http://www.sakhi.org
• SEMAH (San Francisco): http://www.semah.org
• Tahirih Justice Center (Falls Church, Va..): http://www.tahirih.org
• Turning Point for Women and Families (New York, NY): www.turningpoint-ny.org

[sereia 0]

[childress_london 3]

Interesting explanation of the wig:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5690

That anthropologist has not only mistaken a wig for real hair, but has also confused true modesty for his own version. He equates modesty with unattractiveness, but that is his definition, not Judaism's. From the Jewish perspective, modesty has nothing to do with being unattractive. Rather, modesty is a means to create privacy. And that is what a wig achieves.

...

The hair-covering has a profound effect on the wearer. It creates a psychological barrier, a cognitive distance between her and strangers. Her beauty becomes visible, but inconspicuous; she is attractive, but unavailable.

The wig achieves the desired effect exactly, because a wig allows a woman to cover all her hair, while maintaining her attractive appearance. She can be proud of the way she looks without compromising her privacy. And even if her wig looks so real as to be mistaken for natural hair, she knows that no one is looking at the real her. She has created a private space, and only she decides who to let into that space.

I'd be interested to hear an anthropological approach to this as well, if this definition of modesty that the rabbi is talking about has developed and changed over time.

Yeah, I don't get the modesty equals unattractive idea. To me that would mean that if you are already an unattractive woman, then you don't need to cover your hair! Besides, I have seen many beautiful women in the hijab. Didn't do a thing to make them unattractive.

[Ahmed N Tina 2]

Does anyone know if the silent treatment is part of Islam, or is that just culture?

[UmmSqueakster 54]

It's recorded in the sahih collections of Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (saws) said "It is not right for a man to abandon his brother for more than three days."

It's not a religiuos thing, it's a man thing.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Interesting explanation of the wig:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/5690

That anthropologist has not only mistaken a wig for real hair, but has also confused true modesty for his own version. He equates modesty with unattractiveness, but that is his definition, not Judaism's. From the Jewish perspective, modesty has nothing to do with being unattractive. Rather, modesty is a means to create privacy. And that is what a wig achieves.

...

The hair-covering has a profound effect on the wearer. It creates a psychological barrier, a cognitive distance between her and strangers. Her beauty becomes visible, but inconspicuous; she is attractive, but unavailable.

The wig achieves the desired effect exactly, because a wig allows a woman to cover all her hair, while maintaining her attractive appearance. She can be proud of the way she looks without compromising her privacy. And even if her wig looks so real as to be mistaken for natural hair, she knows that no one is looking at the real her. She has created a private space, and only she decides who to let into that space.

I'd be interested to hear an anthropological approach to this as well, if this definition of modesty that the rabbi is talking about has developed and changed over time.

Yeah, I don't get the modesty equals unattractive idea. To me that would mean that if you are already an unattractive woman, then you don't need to cover your hair! Besides, I have seen many beautiful women in the hijab. Didn't do a thing to make them unattractive.

I guess what confounds me about this is that for me, the point of covering my hair is to cover my hair. If I put a wig on, then people can still see something that looks like hair. In my mind, that's akin to putting on a shirt that has a picture of a naked body on it, or wearing skin tight clothes, yes, your body is covered, but you can see see the body.

I do concur that modesty doesn't have to equal ugly.

[nunyab 0]

I rather be silent until i calm down myself...