The session has just started. You are invited to join us with your questions.
After the session, you could view the whole dialogue in the recent sessions.
Yours,
IslamOnline Live Dialogue Editing Desk..
Name
Salma
-
Profession
Question
As-salamu alaykum,
I have a question for one of my very closed friend.
Sometimes her husband is araising his voice to her in front of other people. My friend she replies in same way or with more loud voice. She said in front of Allah both have the same rights therefore she has the right to reply in same way.
Please could you tell me if its haram to do so or is she allowed, really I want to change her manner in this way.
Wa salam aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
Answer
I am sorry about the situation, but I am not really heare to answer such questions. The issue is about the image of Muslim women and and its variety which is not prtrayed by the media in general. I will say Azizah stands for women who are both strong ans dear - Strong enough not to be abused dear enough not to oppress.
These are the 2 meanings of the word in Arabic.
It is the combination of strength and dearness that make for the perfect empowered woman.
Name
Vi
-
Profession
Mother
Question
Could you tell me what does your magazine hope to do? And where can one buy a copy anyway?
Answer
The mission of the magazine is to present the voice of the Muslim American woman. For centuries, Muslim women have been defined by men or people who are not living from an Islamic perspective. Azizah magazine is a chance for her to define herself.
Azizah profiles Muslim women accomplishing stellar feats and discusses issue pertinent to them from their perspective. It presents an accurate protrayal
of the Muslim woman in America and counteracts the conterfeit images seen so often in the mainstream media.
Copies may be purchased online. We also have a distributor in the UK.
Name
syed
-
Profession
doctor
Question
As-salamualaykum,
I know a girl,who has lost her virginity,she was tricked by a boy,she fell in the trap,what are the ways to repent?
I know some girls going out with other region guys? What are the responsibility of parents?
Answer
Encourage your friend to remember she is trying to attain taqwa and this can also be repeflected in ones appearance.
Azizah has deconstructed stereotypes and misconceptions about women held in the mainstream society as well as in the Muslim society. It has been a tool of empowerment and expression for many including parents.
I am not an expert on fiqh and shariah, I am the mother of five - 3 girls and 2 boys. 2 of my daughters are married, the last is a teenager.
In societies where there are few moral guideline and "anything goes" it is difficult to counteract all the messages that children will receive just by virtue of living in this environment - the music the movies, schools, TV, peers, etc.
In my experience, parents' example is more powerful than their words when it comes to teaching children. They won't always listen to what you have to say, but your actions will stay with them forever. So, be what you want your children to me. Then pray. Guidance is only from Allah.
Name
Bethany
-
Profession
Student
Question
Assalamu Alaykum,
How do you address issues that many women are divided on (i.e. hijab, polygyny, working outside the home, etc)? Do you determine a "neutral" stance to please both views?
Jazakullah Khair.
Answer
Concerning hijab - I wear hijab all the time and see it as part of my connection to Allah. However, I don't judge women who don't wear it. I believe more important than if a woman wears hijab or not is the reason why she is wearing it or not. Only ,Allah knows the true reason so only Allah can judge.
In the magazine there are women who wear hijab and women who don't. We present both sides of an issue as well as looking at different mathaahib.
When we looked at the issue of polygyny, we did so from the vantage point of children who grew up in such house-holds. On this issue people often only consider the rights of men and women. It tends to be polarizing. Looking at it from children's eye-view gave it a fresh spin.
Name
Heba
-
Profession
Student
Question
How do you handle the issue of second wives? Does'nt the situation make women seem like posessions?
Answer
For many women polygyny is an for of abuse. For other's it is the best thing that happened in their lives. We encourage women to live empowered lives and
do things that brings them closer to Allah. If a woman choose one form of
marriage over another, and she is happy, we are happy.
Personally, I feel polygyny is an option for women who want the sexual, social and financial benefits of marriage without dealing with a man 24/7!
Name
Mariam
- Brazil
Profession
garden designer
Question
As-salamu alaykum, dear sister.
May Allah reward you for your work.
How the magazine see the theme of "modesty" in the wildly consumist context of USA?
Even before I converted I started to dress in a discreet manner and it was amazing how non-muslim women reacted negatively. I was very surprised because with not "showing off" myself I thought the other women will see me as someone not "dangerous" at all!
Wa-salam
Answer
How the magazine see the theme of "modesty" in the wildly consumist context
of USA?
While there are women with and without hijab inside the magazine, the covers
all have women with hijab on the cover. It readily identifies us as a Muslim
women's magazine. I think the articles speak to modesty more than the dress of
the women. Most other women's magazines run articles about trivial topics.
We treat topics of substance and importance.
Even before I converted I started to dress in a discreet manner and it was
amazing how non-muslim women reacted negatively. I was very surprised because
with not "showing off" myself I thought the other women will see me as someone
not "dangerous" at all!
Covering one's body demands attention to the mind. A person in control of
their mind is a person to be reckoned with. Often times as women we give up our power - the power that Allah has given us - by degrading ourselves and allowing ourselves to be used and abused. When other women who have
relinquished this power see us reclaiming it, they may be confused and feel threatened. Respecting ourselves is part of raising our consciousness as women and as human beings and as believers in Allah and the Hereafter.
Name
Jamila
-
Profession
Business woman
Question
As-salamu alaykum sister.
The problem that I have found since I first became a Muslim until now is the isue of racism, especially towards converts. How can the magazaine address that issue?
Answer
We wrote an article about cultural masjid (mosque) and how often you may end up with a masjid that is of one ethnicity only. We found that people find comfort in being around people like themselves who may speak the same language and have the same tradition and so most often these cultural masaajid are not done to be exclusive.
We feel that anyone who sees themselves to be better than anyone else for any
reason is compromising their Islam. The only thing that make one person better than another is taqwa and you can't be boasting and feeling prideful about being pious.
Race is an arbitrary division of humanity and is an illusion. Anyone who
feels superiority and pride based on this is to be pitied.
Name
MA
-
Profession
Question
I am a Muslim woman who wears hijab and works in North America, however, I don't shake hands with men and they find this some how on first meeting, (especially with high ranking officials), what is the best way to explain this to them without being apologetic about it?
Answer
One of our slogans at Azizah is that it is a magazine for those who don't
apologize for being a Muslim and they don't apologize for being a woman.
First of all, you can't feel apologetic about what you believe. Secondly,
understand that they do not know what you believe and why. It is your right and duty to educate others who to treat you and educate them about your social
parameters. You can simply say, " I am very pleased to meet you. I am a Muslim who doesn't shake hands with men. And I look forward to working with you..."
Let them know who you are and what you are about. They will respect you.
Name
Habibah
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Why is it, that everyone out there seems to think tht Muslim women have no brains? Look at all of your achievements. Surely,it's quite logical that we choose to wear the hijab and that we are not being forced to wear the hijab?
Answer
People have been taught to equate undress women with progress and
intelligence and being cover women with ignorance and being backwards. Using
this logic, only a stupid woman or a woman being forced would cover and be ignorant.
In many countries where women are covered, they are also uneducated. This is
not because they are covered, but because of the oppression they are dealing
with.
As Islam grows in the West and covered women who are accomplished become more
common place in the society, these misconceptions will slowly be erased,
`insha'Allah.
Name
tooba
-
Profession
Question
As-salamu alaykum.
what are the rights that Muslim women have for herself and on herself other than just being a daughter, mother, sister and wife?
Answer
This sounds as if you are asking, "What is the role of the Muslim woman?" My
answer to that is the role of the woman in Islam is the same as the role as
the man -- to reach the highest level of God consciousness. We are here on
earth for a few decades for that purpose. Allah says that we were created for worship.
If we live our lives knowing we are returning to Allah, we will improve on our actions, deeds and acts of worship. In all of our work and in all relationships, we would see it as a part of our worship -- so our worship is not just confined to salat (prayers) and sawm (fasting), but to dealing with each other and contributing to our society. I believe developing our talents and abilities is a part of worship. Making positive contributions to community, society and the world is part of worship.
Allah asks - which of the favours of your Lord will you deny? Each of us is gifted with talent and ability. Will you deny what Allah has given to you or will you use it?
Name
Habib
-
Profession
Lecturer
Question
Being a Muslim woman means that she has to act and dress differently. However being different does not require an apology, rather an explanation. Do you think that our Muslim women are up to these expectations? What whould you ask them to do, in order to speak and perform their task up to your expectations? And what do you expect men to help?
Answer
Because Islam is universal and speaks to so many different peoples, the
Muslim community is a very diverse community, al-hamdu-Lillah. We can't think of it as monolithic. Within our community there are many different ethnicities, schools of thought, cultural traditions and varied perspectives on many things. Within our community there are women who are very ready and able to represent Muslim women at their best and there are also Muslim women who represent Islam very badly.
Muslim women need to educate themselves about Islam, about what is going on in the world and about themselves as women, human beings and believers. I
would like Muslim women to present themselves and Islam in the best way
possible - intelligently and beautifully, with joy. This is a beautiful way of life. Let that beauty and the joy shine through. If you are connecting with Allah 5 times a day, the result of that is a sense of being that is filled with peace and joy.
Name
sista
-
Profession
Question
How do you suggest Muslim women should keep the balance between modesty, not putting themselves in free-mixing situations without good reasons, and preserving the gaze on one hand, and the activism, da'wah, work situation that we aspire to?
What about divisions in the community on matters of segregation of sexes? I do understand that many sholars see it as necessary in Islamic functions especially. When the rules of modesty and to keep conversations short/polite, instead inevitably we see joking around and non-hijabis. BUT is it not a problem when usually if free-mixing is stopped because you cannot really control people's actions, then women get the worst most crammed spots in the center/mosque etc. and their children with them too. What do you suggest for Muslim communities?
Answer
I see modesty of our dress, speech and behaviour as our passport to mixed
company and public space not a reason to further bar women. Modesty is not only
in clothes. If we restrict women from being in public space and mixed company
we are saying we are sexual beings and have nothing valid to offer. We are
first and foremost spiritual beings. We have the capacity to function on that
level. Why do we seek to define ourselves on the most base level and take
that as the starting point?
<do understand that many sholars see it as necissary in Islamic functions
esp. when the rules of modesty and to keep conversations short/polite
instead inevitably we see joking around and non-hijabis. BUT is it not a
problem when usually if free-mixing is stopped because you cannot really
control people's actions, then women get the worst most crammed spots in the
center/mosque etc. and their children with them too. What do you suggest for
Muslim communities?>>
It seems that some Muslim men hold a double standard when it comes to women.
It is almost schizophrenic behaviour. With women who are uncovered and who
they deal with every day in public space they have no problem. With Muslim
women who are covered, they want to push her further away into a crowded back
room and ignore her. When such men, begin to understand Islam, they will want for women what they want for themselves - respect and automony. Muslim women should voice their opinion and ask for a space that is
comfortable, clean and included in the congregation. Nothing wil change unless
we first make it known that it should change and why. Islam gives us the best way of life. Why settle for second best?
