Sunday, March 7, 2010

ELEGANT RIDA AND PROFILE OF AN ELEGANT MUMINA

Sharing an inspiring post written by a very elegant and educated mumina bhen - Rashida Mulla Aliasgar Rasheed. Her niyat is that her post may motivate young ladies of our community, who are still undecided and have some reservations, or affected by outside peer pressures, at workplace, social circles or educational institutes or whatever.

At the end of her post I am sharing with you a beautiful piece on Hijab written by an American muslim lady.



Rida – My Identity

May Allah subhanahu enhance the Umer Sharif of Aqa Maula (tus) till Qayamat.

During these days of Tabuda’at I would like to take this opportunity of Ibadat and Tasbih by performing the Ziker and Shukur of My Maula (tus) who has given me the sharaf of being called a Mumina. When someone speaks of a Mumina, an instant image of a modest, humble woman comes to mind. What separates this humble, modest woman from other women? “Rida”.

On the entrance essay for admission to the University of CA, Davis I had written that if one were to take an arial picture of the students in my school, I would definitely stand out. Where I lived with my family – Lodi, California there were only a few mumineen families nearby, and definitely I was the only mumina teenager in my school, and obviously the only one wearing Rida.

From my student life to my experiences in the professional world, I have always gotten a second look – from the look of astonishment to the look of admiration. In middle school, the beginning days of my wearing a Rida many times included stares and taunts from other teenagers. As any teenager in the US can attest to, the middle school years are the years where one craves acceptance or being able to “fit in”

From job interviews to my foray into the teaching world, there have been many instances that I have felt I have had to go the “extra mile” to prove myself. During interviews, I have been subtly asked if the clothes (Rida) I was wearing during the interview would be the clothes I would be wearing while teaching.

In my first teaching assignment in Hayward, CA I had two assistant teachers working for me. When I walked in on my first day, they gave me an incredulous stare – as if I was at the wrong place. During my first few weeks on the job, I would constantly experience my assistants second guessing my directions and decisions. Withstanding all low expectations, I was able to pull through.

Circumstances, situations that may otherwise have pushed one to quit – were not able to deter me. What pulled me through the toughest times, and always gave me the courage to continue wearing Rida was the expectation that my Maula (tus) had in me. As a mumina, I have always felt that the biggest nemat for me has been to be included when Maula (tus) addresses us as his “Piyara Farzando”. As a farzand how could I stand to disappoint my Bawa Shafiq – the same Bawa that puts Mumineen first, and does Dua for us before we ask. This very strength of Mohabbat for my Maula (tus) turned things around for me. Once where I was hesitant I gained confidence. Once where I had people second guessing me, the same people stood up for me. All this happened, because…I believed in My Maula (tus) and I knew that my Maula (tus) believed in me.

Today, as a wife of a Khidmat Guzar, and especially one living in the “Bible Belt” I have been fortunate to have had opportunities to speak to other Muminaat Baheno about Aqa Maula (tus) ni khushi and wearing Rida. From someone living in the United States, we enjoy many freedoms, one being the freedom of expression. From my experiences and from experiences of other Muminaat Baheno I feel that, sometimes the biggest barrier to overcome is the – internal barrier. It is taking the initial step. The step that we all believe in but are afraid to take. “Maula (tus) Na Farmaan ne Tasleem Karwu”.

May Allah Subhanahu enhance the Umer Sharif of Aqa Maula (tus)and give us all Mumenaat Behno Himmat to carry on the many Farmaans of our Bawa Shafiq, Aqa Maula (tus).

Ameen

Amate Syedna (tus)

Rashida M. Aliasger Rasheed

www.eduscribe.com




THE ELEGANT HIJAB

The pea is a splendid plant. It proudly displays its strong green Hijab. It protects it from the hot and cold weather and guards it from insects. Allah has blessed the pea with a special Hijab, because without it, the seeds would scatter, dry up and die.

The orange keeps itself within its shiny orange Hijab to protect its delicious fruit. Otherwise it-looses its taste too.

So are the banana, the coconut and the pomegranate. Each one has an elegant and unique Hijab, which protects it from disease and destruction.

The jewel of the sea, the pearl, has been given a very tough and rugged Hijab - oyster shell. It protects it from sea animals and keeps it sparkling and shining inside.

However, the most beloved of Allah in all His creation is the Muslim girl who wears the Hijab. She knows it is a gift from Allah. It protects her from harm, injury and mischief. She wears it knowing it gives her dignity, beauty and respect. So precious she can be that she hides herself beneath her Hijab.

Do you wear a Hijab? Give it a try today

9 comments:

Murtaza Imran Ali said...

Salam,

I have been recenrly following this Blog.

Thank you for an amazing post and thank you Rashida Mulla Aliasgar Rasheed for such an inspiring read.

I would like to contribute. The same analogy goes for Mumineen Bhaio as well. Aqa Maula(TUS) na farman na mutabik, Wearing Topi and Dari Mubarak har Mumineen ne rakhwai joye.

As Rida gives us a separate and unique identity from others, in the same way Dari Mubarak also protects us.

I would like to advise all young Mumineen to follow Aqa Maula's farman and experience a different feeling and confidence in this world.

Wsalam

inversion said...

I have also only been following this blog recently.
Nice post.

I'd like to ask what exactly do you think the rida protects us ladies from?

MIND MINTS said...

We mumineen are followers of our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS)and his hidaya't is based on deep knowledge. Besides the pros of hijab have been discussed extensively on the web, if one is really interested to study in depth and understand.

I have just this must to say - it protects women from overexposure, it enhances her modesty. The latent carnal desire inherent in man is not aroused and the women feels safe and protected.

mohammed rangoonwala said...

RIDA stands for Respect,Independence, Dignity and Ability of fairer sex and it protects them from Rogue, Intolerant, Debauch, Animal of the Worst kind from M(e)ankind. I pray many more R(ash)ida are born from Rida. As itis Rashida literally means one who imbibes preaching from her Master and her Master is none other than Aqa Maula TUS who in fact is Hijab for Imam in presence. Mohammed Rangoonwala

mohammed rangoonwala said...

It's not only about charcteristics of Rida or its practicability as protection apparatus as one seems to be concerned of. It's more about winning in life and life hereafter. Of course this is meant for believers as the Ayat (sentence) of
quran in relation to purdah or veil begins (in Sura An Noor:31): And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent and to draw their veils over their bossoms and not reveal their adornment save to their husbands or their fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their brothers'or their brothers' sons or sisters's sons or their women or those whom their right hands possess or male attnedants who lack vigour or children who know not of women's femininity. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of the adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed. This success is what matters most in this Quranic Order in the end for those who believe. Success means emancipation from this life to the life hereafter...where our Aqa Maula would want us to go forever for hayat e Javedani in Jannat ul Firdaus. May we g et prepared as he would want us to be. Mohammed rangoonwala

inversion said...

Excellent discussion! :)

Its true that while wearing rida I do not so much feel I am protected from anything (though perhaps there is the feeling of being safe?). Rather, it is a feeling of being separate from everyone, a feeling of being mumin, although I don't know about modesty. A persons clothes do not always limit their thoughts or actions.

In some bayan, a person should wear a rida because otherwise people will look at her. But by wearing a rida in Toronto more people look at you than they would if you didn't, which is a little ironic. Also, if a woman is supposed to wear a rida so that a man doesn't look at her, shouldn't the man simply not look at the woman whether or not she wears a rida? It sounds like it should be the man's responsibility, theoretically.

Another irony is that ladies who wear rida in North America generally wear it by their own choice while people elsewhere wear it sometimes simply because everyone wears it and the public would talk about them badly if they didn't (peer pressure, basically).

MIND MINTS said...

You have made a very vital point by stating that - ' a feeling of being a mumin' (mumina) yes once you get that feel 'ehsas thvu' things become very easy.

Convincing should come from inside and not as a result of outside pressure or compulsion.

Let me share with you a real story. After reading my post one mumina surprised her menij friends by wearing a rida and a beautiful jodi. As usual with ladies there was a lot of discussions, but for Bhen Rashida Rasheed in particular, her post managed to inspire one, and Insa Allah it may have inspired many.

Real change should come from inside, from conviction and for this one should look up to our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS) a fervent appeal to him, and the task becomes easy.

Now this is just in zest, but has a valid point. In Toronto it is not the one who wears a rida but the beautifully designed rida, the uniqueness of it, becomes an eye candy.

Pray do let men have the simple pleasure of appreciating the beautiful intricate artistry :)

By wearing the rida the all engrossing man's gaze is stonewalled and the mumina enjoys the attention she receives ( that is her beautiful unique attire) at the same her modesty - the beautiful pearl that she is remains safe from prying eyes of man.

The gaze of men does not dictate her, she dictates over men -
your gaze can go this far and not more ! women Lib in the truest of sense. :)

mohammed rangoonwala said...

It's not all about personal choice or pressure whether it is peer or introverted. But it's about freedom. Yes, freedom of an individual. That's why Quran Says:O believers, if you believe: Thus it is success of being emancipated from this world and in the life hereafter which in fact is the freedom for an individual. Rida in this sense and context is very consequential...The beauty of intricate artistry of Rida or someone's attraction or distraction or somebody's look or ignorance is inconsequential. In the end it's not mere look or sight of or for somebody which counts. But it is vigorus, evil sight and devilish look of or for somebody which may injure an individual's freedom. May we be guarded by Maula and saved by Allah against such heineous vigorous devilish tendencies of m(e)ankind.

MIND MINTS said...

谢谢您。你用英文或使用翻译转换后的中文