Canada’s First Muslim Woman Member of Parliament: Why did the Media Miss the Story? An eye opening article . The fundamentalism is depriving many accomplished Muslims of the status that they rightfully deserve. It is sad that our very own Muslim community is so divided.

Illiteracy (Ignorance) After Education Part II

Hmm.. u remind me of a phrase my ammi uses quite often for some people: `` parhey likhay jahil`` i.e . educated illiterates.

These examples present the true picture of the hypocrisy emanating from the people around us.

good job.

Truth vs. Lie Thank you Hijabi.

Frankly, i wrote it in a frenzy sitting in the library of my college yeras back. I had no one in mind . As for the feeling, i only recall feeling exhilarated for no reason at all.

Thanks once again.

Truth vs. Lie Glad u noticed, hijabi.

Well, now u know. :)

Thoughts, Anger & other poems well written.

``Thoughts``, a close friend whipered to me, `` can not be controlled! ``

The beauty of tios poem is it`s simplicity .

I like the last three poems a lot i.e . ``Living words``, ``Don`t Really Know why`` and ``The Right to Freedom``.

I especially like the following verses:

``the setting sun
the brooding dark,
standing together
yet feeling apart.``

As for freedom of expression, i myself have come to question this very theory and law myself because some how it has been made the very excuse for being able to indulge in slander, abuses, spreading rumours, nudity, etc. In other words, according to me, defy morals.

A job well done.

Last Rites: An Evening at a Pak/Indian Show-biz Award Ceremony heheh! Good one! Hilarious as uaual!

I simply hated the entire awards ceremony. firstly it looked totally mismanaged and disorganised at some points.

Secondly,Nadia Jameel kept blabbing rubbish. It was hilarious when she ran onto stage with just one jhumka in her ear and that too half hanging from her hair . At first i thought maybe she`s trying to make some weird fashion statement but within miinutes owing to the expertise of the camera man , she had the time to remove the half hanging sole earring . :)

Some performances were good such as the ones by Nirma and resham and even ZQ. But when Meera took on to stage... ( now that`s another story).

Amina haq won the award for best actress for a drama and that was a shock. She didn`t deserve it. i mean she just can not act. The other actresses nominated did a much beter part for instance Sania saeed or Uzma Gillani. Amina Haq???? Whatever!!!!

Sadia Imam looked super excited and her enthusiasm seemed totally fake ..well..atleast to me.

Further, i really didnt understand the concept behind P.actress`s coming on stage when Sonu Nigam was singing. let the poor guy sing in peace....

Shaan winning the best actor award for commando was also beyond my understanding. i mean from the promo , it looked as if all he did in the movie was to hold an Ak-47 and shout at the top of his lungs.

I also noticed that half the seats of the hall were empty or rather the hall was half full.. ( whatever! ).

Rahul Capri (post # 1) is right.. the commercials were the only entertaining thing to watch.

Anyways, shouldn`t be too hard on the organisers . I guess they did try very hard to put up a good show. but, then they definately have to do better and work harder!

Coming to the story , it was a good way to point out the fallacy of most actors and politicians. For instance the part where you wrote:

``Mr. Shaukat Aziz for portraying an ageing yuppie who suddenly discovers the wonders of discarding designer suits for crisp shalwar-kameez …”
now, that`s something. :)

You seem to come with brilliant stuff every time. I mean who could have thought of a classical version of ``Billo de Ghar ``!

Way too funnyyy!!!!

Dear Sisters, Meet Maria Sharapova Echoboom# 290:

Respected Sir,

You have read my mind. I had decided before hand frankly not to persue this thread any more. Thanks for the post anyways. It`s certainly a change from the usual allegations of being brainwashed and what not!

Kind regards.

Dear Sisters, Meet Maria Sharapova For Dharma and solitude:

God indeed created me equal to man and that is y I am in no way inferior to him and that is why I can choose to dress up the way I want to just the way a man does. If a man chooses to wear say Bermudas then I can also choose to wear a headscarf.

I have repeatedly stated that I don’t use the veil and oppose it and I have already given my reasons earlier.

I use the head scarf but not regularly and only in places where there is a chance of facing harassment from the males. And that is my personal choice. . If some male decides to wear a hat I would not create a fuss over it. It is their decision. Our religion does require males to dress modestly too. The men, like women are also asked to dress modestly.

I personally believe that a human will not be evaluated in front of Allah’s eyes on the basis of whether they wore a hijab or not, or whether they were enveiled or not? What really matters in the end is whether we were true and honest; whether we helped our fellow beings or not, whether we treated our parents, family and friends kindly etc.


My entire stance in earlier posts has been to not to discriminate against scarf wearing females. They are like normal human beings. they work, go to the gym , eat, sleep, have friends, like to socialize, get a better education, like dressing up etc. just like normal females do. They are not aliens so stop treating them like one.

I just want people to realize that every human should be given the right to dress the way they want to. If some Muslim female is not allowed to do do that, for example, in countries like Iran, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, then that is wrong. And, I fully oppose it. Do you know that some young females of Iran, who are brilliant ice skaters are not allowed to participate in the Olympics by their government, even though there is a very good chance that they will win because of their extremist notions? That, sir, is wrong. Those females ahould be given the right to excel and live their lifes they want to.

Similarly, if I wear the head scarf in front of strangers , then that is my conscious choice too.I should be given the right to live my life I want to, as well, don’t you think?

As for swimming with extra layers of clothing… please don’t assume like gujjubania.  If I had not focused my attention on the legal field and was still taking part in swimming competitions and maybe was just good enough to participate in the Olympics, ( now that’s a thought!  ) then right now, I would have a petition ready for the officials to let me swim in a knee length swimming costume. But then I don’t need to, our Pakistani swimmers are going places anyways.

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For many years, the women say, it was impossible for women to swim competitively in Pakistan, a country with a 97 percent Muslim population, as traditional swimsuits were considered too revealing because they left women’s legs exposed. The Pakistani women swimmer wear a high-neck, vest-style suit that leaves their arms uncovered but covers their legs down to the ankle. In 1997, Pakistan’s government relented, granting permission for the first female swimmers to compete in the Islamic Women’s Games in Tehran, Iran. The Afro-Asian Games mark only the fourth time Pakistani women swimmers have competed in a major international event. They previously competed in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, and the World Championships in Barcelona last July.

Back home, the swimmers have gained a fan following and are minor celebrities, regularly giving interviews and appearing on television. “They’re becoming a lot more supportive and open to the idea of us going abroad to compete,” Mehrunnisa Khan, 16, says of the Pakistani public. The government, she adds, is “trying to promote women’s swimming because they want us to win medals and bring prestige to the country.”
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Every female should be given the right to dress as they want. I have stated numerous times before, and I am going to state it again, there is no compulsion in religion. It is only the Mullahs and the backward extremists who have greatly distorted it.

The scarf indeed is no criteria for my success. I am what I am despite the scarf. That is all I am trying to say. And a woman’s success is not hampered because she wears the scarf.

It is hampered when men impose their wishes on them ; when they are forced to not study or work; when they are beaten up by insecure husbands and brothers; when males view them as sex objects; when they are FORCED to wear the veil or head scarf or FORCED to not wear it as well.

Why can’t a woman live her life, just the way she wants?

Kind regards.


Ps. Never have I defended in my previous posts the concept of polygamy. Coming from such a background, I expect no one to understand what it feels like. Frankly, I am against polygamy and think that is only excusable in case of infertility in either husband or wife (and that too if both of them agree to it). But, I do not want to expand on this aspect.

A woman can have four husbands in Islam. She will only have to go through the process of subsequent divorces. But, I am not for polygamy in any case whether it’s a male or female.

Dear Sisters, Meet Maria Sharapova I am a Muslim woman
by Jenn Zaghloul

I am a Muslim woman
Feel free to ask me why
When I walk,
I walk with dignity
When I speak
I do not lie

I am a Muslim woman
Not all of me you`ll see
But what you should appreciate
Is that the choice I make is free

I`m not plagued with depression
I`m neither cheated nor abused
I don`t envy other women
And I`m certainly not confused

Note, I speak perfect English
Et un petit peu de Francais aussi
I`m majoring in Linguistics
So you need not speak slowly

I run my own small business
Every cent I earn is mine
I drive my Chevy to school & work
And no, that`s not a crime!

You often stare as I walk by
To understand my choice of Hijab, you fail,
But peace and power I have found
As I am equal to any male!

I am a Muslim woman
So please don`t pity me
For God has guided me to truth
And now I`m finally free!

(c)1999 Jenn Zaghloul

Dear Sisters, Meet Maria Sharapova Re: Solitude


Utility of the right to vote is of little use if the vote is given to the likes of Khomeini or some Mullah who holds your reigns.

True enough, Mr.Shiraz. But, then are you equating a women’s right or decision to enveil or wear a scarf with politics i.e. with dictatorship. So, how do you explain the thousands of Indonesian or Malaysian females who wear a head scarf? Is Indonesia or Malaysia ruled by the “likes of Khomeini”?



You can wear a skirt underneath that veil but it makes little difference to the fact that these veiled women are paying obeisance to the institution of slavery.
BTW wearing skirts or lingerie is not a measure of liberty but wearing a veil is a measure of your servitude.

Ahan! You finally realized that maximum exposure is not the test for liberty!

But then you are still assuming that all scarf wearing or envieled women consider themselves lesser to men, subhuman, inferior etc. I don’t think of myself as such. Tell us frankly? How many scarf wearing or enveiled females do you interact with in daily life? STOP GENERALIZING FOR GOD’S SAKE! All the fingers of a hand are not equal.

The only women who may think so are the ones who are uncomfortable wearing the head scarf or veil and are doing so under family pressure or are segragated from the males. Now, such females should definitely cast off their veils, otherwise their frustration is going to land them in a far more corrupt world. I heard that in the recent internet café scandal, most of the females on video were enveiled or wore headscarfs….

So, instead of generalizing, please accept that not all Muslim females consider themselves frustrated or less to men, because they wear a veil or a headscarf. No one is of course denying that there may be some who indeed do want to cast off their veil.


The fact that some woman is driving a Mercedes means little for women or Muslims if the woman is wearing a veil.

Now, this sentence needs some explaining because I don’t really get your point! I know a friend who wears a head scarf and drives a B.M.W…. but should this fact mean anything to any one at all? What exactly is your point of evaluation? What exactly is this example supposed to portray?



It means little if Benazir comes to power in Pakistan when she is abused in front of her feudal lord of a husband and used by the men in her family to run Islamic Pakistan into the ground. Symbolic gestures and using western vocabulary to make excuses for veils does NOT excuse veiling.

If you have issues against Benazir, then what do you think about the following: The neighboring Bangladesh is under the rule of Begum Khaleda Zia, widow of former president Ziaur Rahman.In Southeast Asia, Indonesia is run by President Megawati Sukarnoputri, daughter of charismatic independence leader Sukarno.

In contrast, western societies didn’t produce their first female head of state for almost two decades more, until 1979, when Margaret Thatcher became prime minister of Great Britain. That same year, Simone Weil of France became the first president of the European Union. Yet, three quarters of a century after winning the right to vote, women in America still haven’t had the choice of a single female candidate for president from any of the major parties.

Meanwhile, Asia continues to turn to numerous female rulers. Benazir Bhutto has twice served the same role in Pakistan, becoming the first woman to head a Muslim state. When Sheik Hasina Wazed took over as prime minister of Bangladesh, she succeeded another woman, Khaleda Zia.

By the way even male candidates in politics are used or use other people; are influenced or influence; crumble when given pressure or make others crumble. No party has really done wonders for Pakistan. In politics everyone exploits the other. Do you think Jamali was not influenced by party members or external factors?



Are Muslim women reliable allies of the west`s?

Umm.. I think any sensible patriot should be a reliable ally of their own country. For instance American women should be reliable allies of America, don’t you think? But then if you are an immigrant and depend on the host country , then that’s a totally different issue.


This is Islam the same religion that literally means submission. Is it not laughable?

The submission you are talking about is submission to Allah, not to the desires of men like you who want to impose their wishes on others. Every human has a right to live their life the way they want and the way you are arguing is hardly logical. It is only as good as your word against mine.



Have you seen ONE SINGLE Muslim woman ever speak kindly of the west? Have you ever seen one SINGLE Muslim woman say anything nice towards the people who risk their lives so Muslim women may get a western, secular education? Have you seen a SINGLE Muslim woman ever praise the very liberators who shed blood for them?

You will never stop generalizing , will you? I appreciate the west for giving better opportunities for students like me to get an advanced and comprehensive degree. It is only because of their kindness, that they let us Muslim women get good education in their respected universities.. But then, it is not free. We pay for it!

But then, I am not ignoring the scholarships given… and that aspect is certainly commendable!


I praise the west for letting people who can’t get jobs in their own country to migrate in their territory, and earn a decent livelihood.

I praise the likes of Diana, Mother Teresa, and the Red Cross etc. for striving to help the third world countries.

I praise the west for letting immigrants practice their own religion freely with out any fear. I praise them for letting the immigrants establish their own mosques, temples, Gurdwara’s, synagogues etc.


When the west requests that slavery be abolished these people retort ``but we live in a desert we are poor give us your luxury cars and we will abolish slavery`` What does a Merc have to do with slavery?

I again wonder what this has to do with the scarf and the veil. What you write reflects the selfishness and greed and corruption of the leaders of most Islamic countries, and nothing else.




Then whets with the attention hungry veiled Muslimas women who derive their ``social`` worth from chat rooms and IRC and the santized ``veil`` of the internet? They would rather email or talk on the phone rather than go see an opera or hold hands and walk in the park.

Hmm... Very true. I have to agree with you here. This is another thing which I frankly like about western societies. But then, on a recent visit to Saudi Arabia I noticed that most couples and spouses hold hands when ever they go out. It was the most, sweetest, most natural thing to do and it did make me wonder, why, people in Pakistan, create such a hoo ha over a public show of affection?

I certainly don’t approve of hiding feelings or keeping them pent up inside. It is only because of such lack of expression, that most females (i.e . . . the unfortunate ones who spend their life segregated from the opposite sex) when are made of the internet and its many possibilities, they alter for the worse. The recent Islamabad internet café incident, hence, unfortunately involved a majority of burqa clad or enveiled females.





As I said when all the worthy men have abandoned Islamic Pakistan you can look around and you will find the eager grin of the Taliban looking to take on a 4th wife or concubine you may take consolation that though you may be abused and the 4th wife and veiled at least you are not committing a sin against Allah.

Couldn’t agree with you, more. It is sad that some people are now promoting a most talibanised form of Islam in Pakistan. However, not every one is accepting it. There are people who disapprove of it and object to it rather strongly and are fighting against it. And, believe it or not, I am one of them.

I just think that you should stop generalizing and stop assuming that all Scarf wearing females are backward, oppressed or brainwashed.

Kind regards.

Ps. it seems to me that you have been unfortunate in getting to know Muslim women as the only ones that you have met (it seems) are oppressed or brainwashed. :)

I Have Heard That People Look At Her In Amazement Sir naqshbandi..

Indeed there is a sung version of this ghazal. However, i don`t really know who sung it. I`ll try to find out. The ghazal is played a lot on Pakistani Fm radio channels. :)

regards.

What’s the Taj Mahal like from the inside? And Other Stories I believe ir rather i believed is that this site is for individuals across borders, who want to go beyond the norm i.e . one`s who want to create a difference; One`s who would discuss and argue and come woth solutions or in certain cases just agree to disagree. I believe, (believed) that most of the interactors are educated and civilised and know a bit about manners, ethics and morals.

However, all i read from the posts nowadays is some one either ridiculing one`s religion, their culture, their personality, their race, creed etc. This is really a sad state!

If one does not agree with another, at least learn to respect their views or opinions without attacking their religion or personality etc.

Kind regards!

An Open Letter to Jemima Khan I think it`s a personal matter. Their marriage just didn`t work out. It seems both tried their best but couldn`t get anywhere. I just hope the kids don`t turn out confused about their identity or start hating their father...
I think the children are much more affected in polygamous or divorce situations.

Regards.

Dear Sisters, Meet Maria Sharapova From BBC world news:

To non-Muslims in Britain, Muslim women are often typecast by their headscarf or hijab.

Faith in Fashion meets a new generation of Muslim designers, stylists and consumers who are passionate about fashion and joins them as they choose new outfits for the Eid festivities.

Leili Morshed is an Iranian graduate in fashion design from Central St Martin`s College in London.

The inspiration for her work is the traditional chador which she has re-interpreted to stunning effect.

Adding colour, tailoring and beading, she has produced some striking designs which allow women to `express themselves` while remaining covered.

At the College of North West London, many more Muslim women are now enrolling on fashion design courses.

30% of the women on Mahmuda`s course are Muslim. She wants to specialise in design and create ``an outfit that has a hijab, a headdress, which is widely accepted by other women apart from Muslims.

The couture market is also very important to Arab women.
Laila Hamdaoui is Fashion and Beauty Editor of Laha, an Arabic women`s magazine distributed in Saudi Arabia:

``Arab women adore fashion, beauty…they`re very stylish women, take away the black abaya and the scarves and you`ll see that they are big spenders.``

Faith in Fashion also explores wedding outfits with newly-wed Ahlya Fateh, Managing Editor of Tatler, and follows web designer Famida Ghari as she shops with friends and experiments with different scarf styles

Truth vs. Lie Garam Chai...

What a coincidence! Reading your post while drinking garam chai. :)

Anyhow, please do not think too hard. Truth and lies are not same. They are different. In certain situations, however, even though the truth is voiced, all faith is lost in it`s authencity.

Have you ever heard the story of a boy who used to lie and scare people all the time by screaming that the lion had come to eat him . But, one day when the lion did come to eat the boy for real, no one believed him and the boy was eaten?

Sometimes, people ask me if i am going to lie when i start my law practice. And, i always tell them that a good lawyer does not lie. A good lawyer only presents the truth in various forms.

No#6: Malik99: Thank you once again.

Regards,
Summaiya Fo`ad.

Dear Sisters, Meet Maria Sharapova Re:faruk#251````As long as it’s a choice I have no problem with it, but more often than no that is not the case. It’s a sinister effort to push women out of public roles. Push them into a section of the house using purdah and curtail their social interaction. It holds back Muslim societies the world over. That is why a lot of us oppose the hijab, the veil etc. ````

Ans] C , now you are assuming a lot like mr.A.Shiraz. I have repeatedly asked people to not generalise. There are many scarf wearing and enveiled females who participate in politics ( have you noticed the female MPA`s of MMA in the Pakistani Parliament? :) ), economics, social work; are lawyers, teachers, doctors, etc.etc.etc. For instance notice the trend in scarf and veil wearing women in Bahrain.

BAHRAINI WOMEN VOTING



BAHRAINI WOMAN STANDING FOR ELECTION




Further more the literacy rate for women in the Arab world has increased threefold, while school education rates have doubled. Girls want to use their education to have acreers.In Bahrain last year, more university degrees were held by women than men. This also applies to Pakistan. More and more girls are going to universities and building careers and guess what?..Doing better than most men! :)

In Bahrain, fmoreover,Mona Yousuf Al Moayyed, was the first woman to be elected to the board of the Bahraini Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and is one of the region`s role models. She is also managing director of a family trading business, called Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons, which experienced 20% growth last year.

BEAUTIFUL TV PRESENTER RANIA AL-BAZ IN SAUDI ARABIA WHO WAS BEATEN UP BY HER HUSBAND.


c, another proof to indicate to you that it is the males who need change. Instead of following Islam`s specific injunctions to treat wives kindly , this is what they do! Here is a beautiful and talented woman, loved by S.A`s society, who is beaten by a man , her very own husband. But Rania al-Baz proves the adage that one person with courage can make a difference. When she recovers and returns to work, she plans to do more to help Saudi women fight abuse. What she has done so far is nothing short of heroic.Anyways, i am going beyond the tangent. This picture just goes on to show that Scarf wearing females do have careers and are willing to fight against unfair men who try to impose their likes on them.

Ps. Trust me, no one has as yet made me wear anything by force.! like i mentioned in earlier posts, everything is my conscious decision. :)