France & the Burka

By now, everyone has probably heard of France voting to pass the law banning the veil in public places.

I've been hearing a lot of arguments defending this ban - one councilor, involved in the drafting of this legislation, saying that in centuries up to know, there has been no evidence of the French covering their faces. So why should there be now. Another French woman argued that this will help the Muslim females integrate fully into French society.

My question is this... In an age where 2 people of the same sex, are given rights to marriage each other in the name of freedom of choice, is a lady choosing to cover her face from the public, a bigger threat to society than this ?

A person can fight for her right to go naked at a beach, but she can't be afforded this same right to cover it. This begs to ask the question - what exactly are the French afraid of? Is it maybe that their own women might be attracted to the honour and respect the hijab gave their Muslim counterparts?


Whatever their motives behind this are, all it will achieve is to galvanize the Muslim community in their cause. As was the case with Yvonne Ridley, who was captured by the Taliban in 2001 - And accepted Islam after her release. One of the key reasons being the respect they afforded her as a female. Contrast this to the treatment meted out to Aafia Siddiqui in American prisons. Can a ball be kept under water for long ?

My message to our sisters in France is this. Almighty Allah says in the Quran referring to Asiyah, wife of Pharaoh.

" And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: The wife of Pharaoh, when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his work, and save me from the people who are 'Zalimun'.  "

May the Almighty guide us.

Laduuuuma!

I couldn't resist a quickie post.

It's been a day of upsets in the 2010 world cup here in SA. Brazil out and Ghana cheated by Uruguay. I admit , I listened to the games on radio. Definitely not for the faint hearted. After all the smoke and dust has settled, I cannot help but ponder - is it really worth giving over our precious time, emotions and heart to a game ? What is it that gets us all so hooked onto it ?

I'm back from a 20 day trip with a tabligh group of 12. Life takes on a whole new meaning while on a trip like this. Time seems to stand still. One finds oneself setting goals like how much Quraan will be read today ; whether you can get to wake up for tahajjud ; getting to pray all your salaah with the first takbeer. It's beautiful. There were some new reverts to Islam in the group. They were sometimes nothing short of inspirational. One of them was a boy of about 16. He once walked back from his home to the nearest mosque a good few kilometers away, to look for his miswaak which he had dropped somewhere. He eventually did find it. I dont think Id honestly do the same, were I in his shoes.

I hate to sound morbid, but this time we have in our life, really is quite precious. I wonder how many of us are going to end up ruing the lost hours to futility or end up, like some of those youngsters, bringing some real value to our lives.