Pengikut

Rabu, 9 September 2009

Pesta Arak,, bogel semua telah aku lalui...........

Why I Shed Bikini for Niqab: The New Symbol of Women’s Liberation By shahmuzir

By Sara Bokker

I am an American woman who was born in the midst of America’s “Heartland.” I grew up, just like any other girl, being fixated with the glamour of life in “the big city.” Eventually, I moved to Florida and on to South Beach of Miami, a hotspot for those seeking the “glamorous life.” Naturally, I did what most average Western girls do. I focused on my appearance and appeal, basing my self-worth on how much attention I got from others. I worked out religiously and became a personal trainer, acquired an upscale waterfront residence, became a regular “exhibiting” beach-goer and was able to attain a “living-in-style” kind of life.

Years went by, only to realize that my scale of self-fulfillment and happiness slid down the more I progressed in my “feminine appeal.” I was a slave to fashion. I was a hostage to my looks.

As the gap continued to progressively widen between my self-fulfillment and lifestyle, I sought refuge in escapes from alcohol and parties to meditation, activism, and alternative religions, only to have the little gap widen to what seemed like a valley. I eventually realized it all was merely a pain killer rather than an effective remedy.

By now it was September 11, 2001. As I witnessed the ensuing barrage on Islam, Islamic values and culture, and the infamous declaration of the “new crusade,” I started to notice something called Islam. Up until that point, all I had associated with Islam was women covered in “tents,” wife beaters, harems, and a world of terrorism.

As a feminist libertarian, and an activist who was pursuing a better world for all, my path crossed with that of another activist who was already at the lead of indiscriminately furthering causes of reform and justice for all. I joined in the ongoing campaigns of my new mentor which included, at the time, election reform and civil rights, among others. Now my new activism was fundamentally different. Instead of “selectively” advocating justice only to some, I learned that ideals such as justice, freedom, and respect are meant to be and are essentially universal, and that own good and common good are not in conflict. For the first time, I knew what “all people are created equal” really means. But most importantly, I learned that it only takes faith to see the world as one and to see the unity in creation.

One day I came across a book that is negatively stereotyped in the West–The Holy Qur’an. I was first attracted by the style and approach of the Qur’an, and then intrigued by its outlook on existence, life, creation, and the relationship between Creator and creation. I found the Qur’an to be a very insightful address to heart and soul without the need for an interpreter or pastor.

Eventually I hit a moment of truth: my new-found self-fulfilling activism was nothing more than merely embracing a faith called Islam where I could live in peace as a “functional” Muslim.

I bought a beautiful long gown and head cover resembling the Muslim woman’s dress code and I walked down the same streets and neighborhoods where only days earlier I had walked in my shorts, bikini, or “elegant” western business attire. Although the people, the faces, and the shops were all the same, one thing was remarkably distinct–I was not–nor was the peace at being a woman I experienced for the very first time. I felt as if the chains had been broken and I was finally free. I was delighted with the new looks of wonder on people’s faces in place of the looks of a hunter watching his prey I had once sought. Suddenly a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I no longer spent all my time consumed with shopping, makeup, getting my hair done, and working out. Finally, I was free.

Of all places, I found my Islam at the heart of what some call “the most scandalous place on earth,” which makes it all the more dear and special.

While content with Hijab I became curious about Niqab, seeing an increasing number of Muslim women in it. I asked my Muslim husband, whom I married after I reverted to Islam, whether I should wear Niqab or just settle for the Hijab I was already wearing. My husband simply advised me that he believes Hijab is mandatory in Islam while Niqab is not. At the time, my Hijab consisted of head scarf that covered all my hair except for my face, and a loose long black gown called “Abaya” that covered all my body from neck to toe.

A year-and-a-half passed, and I told my husband I wanted to wear Niqab. My reason, this time, was that I felt it would be more pleasing to Allah, the Creator, increasing my feeling of peace at being more modest. He supported my decision and took me to buy an “Isdaal,” a loose black gown that covers from head to toe, and Niqab, which covers all my head and face except for my eyes.

Soon enough, news started breaking about politicians, Vatican clergymen, libertarians, and so-called human rights and freedom activists condemning Hijab at times, and Niqab at others as being oppressive to women, an obstacle to social integration, and more recently, as an Egyptian official called it–”a sign of backwardness.”

I find it to be a blatant hypocrisy when Western governments and so-called human rights groups rush to defend woman’s rights when some governments impose a certain dress code on women, yet such “freedom fighters” look the other way when women are being deprived of their rights, work, and education just because they choose to exercise their right to wear Niqab or Hijab. Today, women in Hijab or Niqab are being increasingly barred from work and education not only under totalitarian regimes such as in Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt, but also in Western democracies such as France, Holland, and Britain.

Today I am still a feminist, but a Muslim feminist, who calls on Muslim women to assume their responsibilities in providing all the support they can for their husbands to be good Muslims. To raise their children as upright Muslims so they may be beacons of light for all humanity once again. To enjoin good–any good–and to forbid evil–any evil. To speak righteousness and to speak up against all ills. To fight for our right to wear Niqab or Hijab and to please our Creator whichever way we chose. But just as importantly to carry our experience with Niqab or Hijab to fellow women who may never have had the chance to understand what wearing Niqab or Hijab means to us and why do we, so dearly, embrace it.

Most of the women I know wearing Niqab are Western reverts, some of whom are not even married. Others wear Niqab without full support of either family or surroundings. What we all have in common is that it is the personal choice of each and every one of us, which none of us is willing to surrender.

Willingly or unwillingly, women are bombarded with styles of “dressing-in-little-to-nothing” virtually in every means of communication everywhere in the world. As an ex non-Muslim, I insist on women’s right to equally know about Hijab, its virtues, and the peace and happiness it brings to a woman’s life as it did to mine. Yesterday, the bikini was the symbol of my liberty, when in actuality it only liberated me from my spirituality and true value as a respectable human being.

I couldn’t be happier to shed my bikini in South Beach and the “glamorous” Western lifestyle to live in peace with my Creator and enjoy living among fellow humans as a worthy person. It is why I choose to wear Niqab, and why I will die defending my inalienable right to wear it. Today, Niqab is the new symbol of woman’s liberation.

To women who surrender to the ugly stereotype against the Islamic modesty of Hijab, I say: You don’t know what you are missing.

Sara Bokker is a former actress/model/fitness instructor and activist. Currently, Sara is Director of Communications at “The March For Justice,” a co-founder of “The Global Sisters Network,” and producer of the infamous “Shock & Awe Gallery.”

Source: http://www.albalagh.net/women/0097.shtml


You may also read the above article in Bahasa Melayu at this link:

http://dupahang.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/sara-bokker-tinggalkan-bikini-demi-islam/


18 ulasan:

  1. Good morning..!
    Ganaahh terik ning, pa lengoh nok jemba prabih... sabik lama ttapĕ pong..!
    (peminat mesti ramai hok rindu tu..!) he.. he..

    BalasPadam
  2. morning yoh teh...
    bukan ttaape(bertapa) tapi telekom wat hal... kabel rosok masuk air seminngu dok leh keleh internet rasa macang duduk bawoh purong jeee...

    dok rok cetong telekom... bil bayor harge same je..

    BalasPadam
  3. Alhamdulillah. Semoga ramai lagi yang masih didalam kegelapan mendapat nur dan hidayah seperti saudara baru kita Sara. Juga sedara islam kita yang islamnya diwarisi dan masih tidak lagi menutup aurat juga mendapat petunjuk dariNYA.

    BalasPadam
  4. Salam, Syekh.
    Hidayah Allah maha luas. Dia akan memilih orang-orang yang dikehendaki-Nya dan yang mengharapkan hidayah itu. Kita namakan beberapa orang - Seniwati Sarimah, Noorkumalasari, Amy Search - semuanya beroleh hidayah Allah dan semoga hidayah itu akan kekal kejap dipegang mereka.

    BalasPadam
  5. DrSam & tuan zul :
    insyaAllah akan ada lagi hati-hati yang akan mendapat petunjuk illahi.

    BalasPadam
  6. Hijab kadangkala jd bahan gurauan.sgt sedeyy..Cik Cookie mencuba dr bawah.

    BalasPadam
  7. salam.. semoga sy sentiasa mendapat hidayahNya

    BalasPadam
  8. assalammualaikum

    ya, ada membaca dalam majalh milenia (?) rasanya bulan sept 2009, baru ni...

    suka...membaca semula. terima kasih

    BalasPadam
  9. Khaarrrkkk..!! Pttuuuiiiii...!!!
    Haram Jadah....!!!!!
    Jom kutuk...!!! masuk sini..!!!

    BalasPadam
  10. alcitizen : T.q. semoga org lain dapat mengambil menafaatnya bersama.

    yohteh : tak apa . tak jejaskan keselamatan negara. kartun zunar lebih bahaya dari lelaki ini.

    BalasPadam
  11. * Salam Abu Muaz..jom g c.c online..jika kabel masuk air.. : )

    BalasPadam
  12. Info yang menarik,terimakasih atas info ini.izinkan saya copy

    BalasPadam
  13. iktibar kepada mereka yang masih tergila2kan gaya hidup barat. bila orang barat berubah kepada gaya hidup Islam, tak nak ikut pulak! kalau nak ikut, ikut lah betul2.

    BalasPadam
  14. salam.. klik gambar ngan mouse blah kanan.. SAVE AS, pas tu save kat file, bukak blog new post.. klik edit html.. pas tu klik blah kanan mouse dan klik plak paste, kalo nak tgk gmbar tu klik compose..

    BalasPadam
  15. ooooo.... t.q. t.q.to you... maiyah.

    ambikkkkk...... ambik semua..ijoks2009

    allavendari ..... kalau org timur dah ikut gaya barat hancur habis bro. org barat pakai bikini org timur.... bukak habis...hancur.hancur....

    BalasPadam
  16. sdr abu muaz. jgn salah faham. maksud saya kalau dulu ikut barat, patutnya ikutlah juga bila barat ikut islam. Ni tak, bila barat ikut islam dia tetap juga ikut barat. itulah maksud saya, kalau nak ikut, ikut lah betul2. tak terpikir langsung dek saya nak suruh orang timur ikut gaya barat. nauzubillah.

    BalasPadam
  17. allavendari: terima kasih saya faham maksud tuan.

    BalasPadam