Female Happiness According to Quran

Friends of this article is taken from islam in Ukraina, may be useful.

Sociologists use a notion of "stigmatization". It means use of labels, when the society forms concerning any group (or other society) a certain stereotype and actively uses it. In most cases it does not bring good results.

"Our women are not at

all "closed", as non-Muslim world
tends to think", Deriya Kazandzi

Let us consider one of the steadiest stereotypes. Islam, Islamic culture, Islamic people. What associations we have concerning them? Aggression and full closeness from the external world, extreme conservatism and, simultaneously, proselytism. Intolerance to others, rigid regulation of internal, first of all, family life. Harems, veils, yashmak and hijab; immediate vendetta for wrong gaze, murder of girls and other passions. Truth or excesses on places?

"TIMER" decided to clear the situation, moreover, in Odessa there are a lot of Muslim women, and every year their quantity increases.

Veil – the European yashmak

Inhabitant of Odessa Deriya Kazanzhi, going out of doors, necessarily puts on hijab, a scarf which does not cover the face, only hair. This is the most liberal variant for Muslims.

In the homeland of her husband – the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - rules are more rigid. There Deriya has to cover herself with another headdress - niqab. This is such a black thing which completely covers the face, with a narrow cut for eyes. However, according to the girl, she does not experience any inconveniences in this connection; moreover, there are some advantages in inaccessibility to gazes of strangers.

- The clothes should not be open, that's all interdictions, – she says. - But it is only for going out, a woman is allowed to dress anything at home.

Muslim women dress a lot of ornaments, gold; at home they dress beautiful, interesting, bright, stylish clothes, jeans, European trade-marks.

By the way, speaking about hijab, niqab and as a whole - about taboo on demonstration of separate parts of body. Both in European and in our, East-Slavic, Orthodox culture, there are direct analogues of similar interdictions – for example, in Russia since ancient times it was considered that a married woman in any way cannot show even locks of her hair. And to go out doors without a headdress, a scarf or a kerchief, bare-headed, was considered as a terrible shame. In "civilized" Europe till the XX century the same role was played by a veil (voilet). The transparent fabric covering face meant that the woman is inaccessible and one should not show her an excessive interest. Is it not a variant of hijab? So, the president of France Nicolas Sarkozy who sharply speaks against Islamic traditions in lady's wear is an ordinary uneducated xenophobe.

But we will return to our heroine. Unlike many Ukrainian women who convert to Islam, having married to a foreign citizen, Deriya (Darya by passport) became a Muslim as a teenager, when she was 12. She prefers not to tell why and how. Her nationality the inhabitant of Odessa defines as "a hybrid of Gaguazes with five-ten other nations".

- To trace my nationality is rather difficult. I have a Turkish surname, my father is swarthy, I am light-skinned. My family is incomplete, my parents divorced 20 years ago, therefore education was the duty of my mother, Deria says. - She, as well as all family: grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts and uncles, - the natives of Uzbekistan. There Russians and Uzbeks, Tatars, Tadjiks, people of different beliefs and faiths always lived together. Therefore my family easily accepted my choice. Besides it was not a fanatical jerk, I did not muffle at once in a "bag" and almost did not change my way of life.

Deriya-Darya is a live refutation of a stereotype about cowed Islamic women deprived of civil rights. She is an active, modern, educated, cultural and sociable. She even has her pages in social networks!

The girl for some time studied at the faculty of international economic relations in the ONU of Mechnikov, but she voluntary gave up the study long before her marriage.

- No any interdictions! I just understood that difficult laws of economy are inapplicable to me, - the Muslim woman tells. – Then I finished courses of design and started to work. I worked in a small advertising agency, then at home. Even in the beginning of our family life I continued to work, my husband was not against. But in Ramadan it became difficult for me to fast and to spend the whole day in the office, therefore, I decided to make a break, but I did not return to my work later…

When she became unemployed by her own will, Deriya became very interest in needlework: embroidery and weaving by beads, sewing, work on metal and with a wire, creation of costume jewelry and cookery. She spends a lot of time for creation of stylish family albums.

- I do not understand, how the time can pass so quickly, - she says. - If I worked, I would surely have no time for anything. Now I decided to expose my "masterpieces" on sale for the first time. We will see what comes out of it. I also wish to open the studio where I could sew exclusive clothes, accessories, footwear, ornaments in Saudi Arabia. But for now this is just a dream.

She plans to enter university again, but on the other speciality: Shariat, the Arabic language and philosophy, or design and applied arts.

Islamic family: "As mum says, so in the daddy's way it will be"

Muslim family, according to Deriya, is not such as we are used to think. It is simply different, not worse and not better …

- In the family of my husband, and he is the native of the most closed Islamic country, as mum says, so in the daddy's way it will be. Yes, the man is the getter, the core of the family and he gets a lot of honor and respect, but everything in the family is led by a woman and it is visible only from within. When they show Islamic families on the TV or describe in the books, it is like a theatre... only when you get beside the scenes, you could understand it. The care of the house, of life lies on a woman, the man in this duty is helpless. The woman cooks, cleans, dresses, solves many family questions, and disposes the budget. She is a powerful back. And men appreciate it. Women do not work, or work, but not too hard. But they lead not so boring life at all. It is not only kitchen, children and shops. Husbands often spend with them days off, simply go for a drive on a city, visit cafes, cinema, walk on a quay, as in Jeddah, there it is very beautiful. It is possible to leave for sands and to prepare meat and tea on a fire or all the night long to go for a drive across the night Riyadh, or to go on the evening market. This is a real show…

All families of relatives, both from the side of the husband, and from my side, are well-off. We easily accept their traditions, and they - ours. For example, if we visit my non-Muslim relatives, they will never offer us pork. And my husband learned to celebrate such holidays as birthday and students' day.

For me the main thing is that we still have a part of our personal liberty. He does not press on me and me on him. Thus there will always be mutual understanding and we solve disputes very quickly.

Perhaps, also there are families where everything is as terrible as it is described, but, thank God, it does not concern me. But such families are everywhere, happens even worse. There are so many families in Odessa where the woman carries an excessive burden: work, children, the tyrant husband. It seems to me that everything depends on a woman. Both here, and there. As neither Christians, nor Muslims do not keep in the wed-lock by force. The woman has the right to apply for divorce …

"We accept polygamy as a norm of religion, but no any woman will accept it in her family"

And at last the most interesting subject – polygamy. As it is known, the Quran allows a Muslim to have four wives. In Ukraine, on the contrary, monogamy is legislatively established, though some politicians and public figures oppose this norm. For example, the writer and the journalist Oles Buzina last year published the book "Return to women harems". In it he proves that only polygamy can rescue Ukraine from degeneration. Otherwise, our colleague is assured, at such rate of alcoholism and negative birth rate, soon there will be no Ukrainians in this world. We quoted to Deriya some theses of Buzina….

- You say! - she was filled with indignation. - I am categorically against it, as well as the majority of Muslim women, at least, with whom I communicated. We accept polygamy as a norm of religion, but no any woman will accept it in her family. And men practically do not recall it too. Nowadays that occurs in the youth environment, and this, believe me, is much worse than harems. The general catastrophic falling of morals. The nation degenerates, and it is sad. Anyway, personally I will never get on with the competitor, let even assume that we will live in different houses … I do not wish to share with anybody the man, the family and the children!

Deriya confirms: except rather small list of interdictions – on open clothes, alcohol use and so on, - as a whole Islamic tradition liberally enough treats female weaknesses. Much more liberally, than orthodox, for example. Arabian women spend a lot of time for body care, use cosmetics, visit beauty salons.

- However, they rarely use nail-polish, - our interlocutor laughs. - It is forbidden to read namaz with nails covered with polish (The matter is that ritual ablution before a prayer, made on the nails covered with polish, will be void since the polish coat interferes with water stream – editor's comment) I personally cut a lemon half and stick there nails while I watch a film: they grow faster, and look so good. And in general women in the Arabian world know thousand recipes for skin, hair, lips.

- Certainly, among us, Muslims, there are fanatics and conformists, - she says. - As basically in each religion. But I do not consider myself or my husband, Muslims surrounding us, as conformists or fanatics. They are ordinary people, with regular life-style. In life there are practically no differences, too, unless there is more attention given to spiritual cleanliness.

(Given in reduction)

The full version of the article on the web-site of "TIMER"

Leaving traitorous, Got Grace

Image via Wikipedia

Al-Qadi Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Baqi al-Bazzar Al-Ansari said: "In the past, I've been in Mecca may Allah the Most Holy and Most High always watch, one day I felt very hungry. I do not get something that can eliminate my hunger. Suddenly I found a bag of silk tied with socks made of silk also.

I picked it up and brought him home. When I open, I get inside a diamond necklace that I'd never seen before. I went out of the house, and then there was an old man who cried for the lost bag holding a cloth bag containing five hundred dinars. He said, 'This is for people who want to return the silk bag containing the jewels'. I said to myself, 'I'm needed, I was being hungry. I can take the money for the gold dinar I use silk bag and return it to him '.

So I said to the old father, 'Hey, come here'. Then I took him to my house. Arriving home, he told me that feature silk bag, the characteristics of restraints socks, diamond characteristics and amount of thread that bound follows. So I pulled out the bag and gave it to him and he gave me five hundred dinars, but I do not want to take it. I told him, 'Indeed I should return it to you without taking payment for it'. Turns out he insisted, 'You must be willing to accept it', as he kept forcing me. I'm still on my mind, do not want to accept.

Finally the old man went away leaving me. As for me, some time after that I came out of the city of Mecca and sailed by boat. In the middle of the sea, the boat lift was broken, people are all drowned with their possessions. But I survived, with riding a board from the broken pieces of the boat. For some time I stayed in the sea, not knowing where to go!

Finally I arrived at an island population. I sat in one of their mosque while reciting verses from the Qur'an. When they know how I read it, none of the inhabitants of the island unless he came to me and say, 'teach the Qur'an to me'. I fulfill their requests. From them I got a lot of property.

Inside the mosque, I found a few pieces of Mushaf, I took and started to read it. Then they asked, 'Can you write? ", I replied,' Yes'. They said, 'Well, teach us to write'. They also come with children and adolescents are also their. I teach them writing. From that instant, I got a lot of money. After that, they say, 'We have an orphaned daughter, she has enough property. Would you marry her? "I refused. But they continued to insist, 'No way, you have to want'. Finally I indulge them, too. When they took the girl to the front of me, I look at him. Suddenly I saw the diamond necklace that once I find in Mecca around his neck. Nothing I did at that time but just keep watching the jewel necklace.

They said, 'Really, you have destroyed the heart of this orphan girl. You only notice the necklace and did not notice him '. So I tell them my story with these necklaces. Once they know, they shouted Takbir until tahlil and heard by local residents. 'What's wrong with you?', I asked. They said, 'How did you know that the parents who took the necklace from you at that time was this girl's father'. He once said, 'I have never had a Muslim in this world (well) people who have returned the necklace to me'.

He also prayed, 'O Allah, that I arrange a meeting with him until I can marry her off with my daughter', and has now become a reality '. I began to navigate life with him and we were blessed with two children. Then my wife died and diamond necklace into treasures for me and for my children. But both my son was dead, too, until the jewel necklace fell into my hands. Then I sold it for a hundred thousand dinars. And the property you see in me right now is the rest of the money that 100 thousand dinars. "


Translate from http://duniaislam.site50.net/Meninggalkan khianat, mendapat rahmat

Grandma's old ballad

Image via Wikipedia

Image by khalilshah via Flickr

Age has reached the twilight. With a distance of 8 kilometers on foot, once a week, he did it to get to the mosque Lamtamot Seulawah Valley, Aceh, to listen to the recitation


Distance of 8 kilometers traveled by foot, once a week, in order to join the Koran. Yet,
The woman was very simple. Shabby, always wearing a sarong, kebaya (traditional clothes) dress typical elderly woman, and the veil made from socks that ran up and down his chest.

His face was not sunken despite 85 years of age. Perfect straight body. His back was bent a bit. His teeth were still neatly arranged, nothing that date. We laughed, saw teeth are lined up neatly presented joy of his soul.

Scars wrinkles on the cheeks of bias could not diminish her beauty as a woman of Aceh. Pug-nosed with eyes turned a bit wistful. First met him, he wore a brown scarf. Long-sleeved dress with flower pattern and green sarong faded. He was also wearing flip-flops. All the accompanying fetch happiness.

Old grandmother of charm. Deepening Islamic zeal not fragile with old age. He was a strong move to pick up the guidance. This view was myopic eyes stung cruel world. He was walking, kept walking, toward the light of God's natural Universe. All that looks easy for him. Conversely, people who saw it were ashamed and fell in sympathy.

He lives alone. Melodies of life is not without a tone. Melancholy tones so often accompany him. We met in a beautiful meeting, in an assembly Dzikrullah (remembering God) in the 'Mosque Lamtamot'. I was the speaker and the grandmother was a good listener.

After the event, the old woman went home. Slow down. His right hand swinging a stick body buffer balance. He stepped toil, through the forest grove with no smooth road. Large boulders blocking. As far as eight miles, yes miles!

He stumbled through the streets deserted. Dragging his right leg crippled by a conviction, strengthen faith. Strengthened his determination to attend the weekly Islamic studies conducted KKIA-SWA (Indonesian Humanitarian Committee for Aceh-Friends Women and Children), every Sunday morning.

Grandma was born in the Valley Seulawah. His name is Haji, because the holiday coincided with the pilgrimage. No frills others. Until now people used to call her Grandma Haji. Not because it's perform the pilgrimage, but because that name is inherited from the parents.

Formerly, Grandma Haji grows into a good girl. At the age of seven, he began studying Islam in a foster mother (pesantren) which is not far from his home in the Valley Seulawah. Every day he studied books on Tengku Usman. Literacy lessons, all in the Arabic script, not the alphabet ABC.

Growing up, Grandma Haji end of loneliness in the age of 18 years. When it comes proposal from a young man in the neighboring village. Grandma Haji was received, because it has been determined by the parents. Regular matches at that time. The parents agree, children obey. Moreover, Grandma Haji did not have a choice.

Marry them with a dowry Rp 20. During the marriage, was Granny Haji is often made disappointed. Themselves who are religious must accompany a husband who is religious perfunctory. Just to pray, he must always be reminded. It was still often not done.

Household's Ark finally ended after 12 years established. Her husband wanted a child but Grandma Haji is not a woman infertile. Since the breakup, he became his own. There was no place to share God except Allah the Most Holy and Most High.

From the age of 40 years until now, he kept himself. Seeking all the necessities of life with the crowd. Working on their own fields or take a hack at someone else's garden. But 'grandmother Hajj' still have time to teach local people to teach. All doing without complaining.

'Grandma Haji' always stay istiqomah (trying to keep the truth). Ive young to the elderly guidance is always guarded. Closing the genitalia, night prayers, and their studies, continue to do without difficulty.

Now 'Grandma Hajj' occupies a modest house in the village Buncala. Dirt floors uneven, dull shingled with sago palm leaf roof. Furniture in the room just improvise. Sleeping mat mats, cooking with a brick oven using firewood. Everything lived with patience and sincerity. Subhan Allah (Glory to God)! Are we still do not feel ashamed? * (Srikawati / Hidayatullah)

Mosque Islamic Center of Washington DC The Islamic studying

Islamic Center, the oldest mosque in Washington DC, is not only a favorite destination for residents of American Muslims visited, but also many non-Muslims who came there in search of knowledge and knowledge about Islam.

"We're trying to spread knowledge about Islam as the Qur'an teaches us, through wisdom and good guidance," Imam Abdullah M. Khouj, Director of the Center for Islamic Center - told Islam Online.net in an interview in his office.

A historic mosque, located in the heart of Washington on Massachusetts Avenue, is a destination for non-Muslims from America and abroad who come to join in a popular tour.

"Every day we receive 100-600 guests," said Imam Khouj.

Some tours conducted for the State Department official who will serve in the Islamic world or the students who will study in Muslim countries.

"They came to the Islamic Center and we give lectures and seminars on the situation in the Middle East and what to expect and how to behave in an Islamic country," explained the priest Khouj.

Islamic Center is the oldest mosque in the Washington Metropolitan area. "The mosque was built in 1947, and opened to the public in 1952," said the priest Khouj. When opened, the mosque has become the largest place of worship for Muslims in the Western Hemisphere.

Khouj said the idea of building a mosque was first born in 1944, when it was not a single mosque in the capital of the United States. "This is a joint effort of Muslims here and ambassadors of Islamic countries," he explained.

"Turkey's ambassador at the time discussed the possibility of particular U.S. city of Washington DC has a place for Muslims to practice their religion in the U.S., and it is this which makes what the mosque can exist." Islamic Center is managed by a board of directors that consists of all the ambassadors from Islamic countries accredited to the United States.

During the tour, the mosque officials also provide information about Islam, its teachings and the Prophet Muhammad and answer questions from visitors who are curious about Islam.

"Many were asking about the status of Jesus Christ in Islam, and I answered them that you can not become a true Muslim if you do not believe in Jesus," said Koroma Abbassie, coordinator of the group who visited the Islamic Center.

"The others asked me that if Islam is a tolerant and peaceful then why are there so many Muslims to become terrorists. I said that Islam had nothing to do with the wrongdoing committed by the individual."

Koroma was speaking after completing a tour to a group of Christian Sunday school who listened intently as he talked about the five pillars of Islam and what it means to be a Muslim.

"We came because I wanted the students to understand about Muslims, their religion," Tom Clumet, from Sunday School, told IOL.

Dean was one of the students, joined the tour because his friend was a Muslim and he wants to know more about the religion of his friend. "I got information that helped me. I feel to know Islam better now." Islamic Center is also the arrival of important figures for several years, including several presidents of various countries.

Islamic Center is a mosque which was chosen by President George W. Bush on September 17, 2001, just days after 9 / 11 attacks, to talk to Americans about Islam. Islamic Center, the oldest mosques in the Washington Metropolitan area, offers a variety of services to the local Muslim community.

Like the mosques throughout the U.S., the Islamic Center offers various services to the local Muslim community. "This place is central to every Muslim in the neighborhood," said the director of the Islamic Center Khouj. "We're trying to be a place of education, cultural and social center in addition to being a religious place."

This mosque also contains a big library with all sorts of books on Islam, and have classes to study Arabic, the Qur'an, Islamic law and other subjects related to Islam. "Unfortunately, space in the Islamic Center does not allow us to build a school here, but we managed to set Saturday and Sunday classes for six classes."

The mosque is also involved in the social life of society and try to solve some of their problems. "We do marriage counseling, we help people understand funeral and burial procedures, we try to help people who are not married to married," said the priest Khouj.

"We bought a large cemetery and is available for Muslims to bury those who died for free, because the cost of the funeral here in the United States is very expensive."

But the Islamic Center services are the most proud of is the program da `wah. "We have a large number of people who converted to Islam in here every month," said the priest Khouj. "We made a seminar for the converts, to engage in their new religion, so that they understand and have a clear vision, not just to follow certain methods."

Islamic Center Director also confirmed that their outreach beyond the mosque building. "We have the participants to help us send packages of books to institutions across the U.S., especially in prisons where people want to know about Islam," he said.

"And we received a letter from officials at several prisons are thankful to us because after receiving Muslim prisoners are changing their behavior and they become better human beings. Khouj trust by helping to spread the message of Islam is the main role to every mosque. "We send a lot of people to schools, organizations and prisons to give lectures about Islam.

"We're trying hard to hold fast to the teachings of our religion and the representation of Islam as it should." (Fq / IOL)

Life Meditations

How much the value of paper money worth 100,000 when taken to the mosque to donate, but how small when taken to the mall to spend!

How long to serve God for fifteen minutes, but how short when we saw the movie.

How difficult it is to find the words when praying (spontaneous), but how easy it is when talking or gossiping with a girlfriend / friends without having to think long-term.

What a fun game when the ball extended extra time but we complain when a sermon at the mosque a little longer than usual. How difficult it is to read a sheet of Al-qur'an but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a best-selling novel.

How giatnya people to sit in front of the game or concert, but more happy to be in the rear ranks while in the Mosque

How Easily make 40 years of sin in order to satisfy lust alone, but how hard it is when abstinence for 30 days while fasting.

How difficult it is to make time to pray 5 times; but how easy it is to adjust the time in seconds at the last moment for a fun event.

How difficult it is to learn the meanings contained in the al qur'an; but how easy it is to repeat the same gossip to others.

How easily we believe what the newspapers say but how we doubted what the Bible says Quran.

How each person wants to enter heaven, if not necessary to believe or think, or say anything, or do nothing.