Recently a commenter on this blog was questioned on her choice of screen name (hijabisoverrated) and I wanted to chime in on the matter. I can't speak to the motivations of the sister, but I must say that I agree with the sentiment expressed in the name.
Muslims have for too long missed the forest for the trees. We've become so preoccupied with the minutiae of fiqh, aqeedah, hadith, tafseer that we've missed the greater purpose, living a life to please Allah (swt).
Of course aqeedah and fiqh are important, but they are means to a goal, not the goal itself! Were we merely created to master every minute detail of how to tie our turbans? Will our lives be judged based on how we answer the question, where is Allah?
I remember one Imam saying that we will never achieve success until we get out of the bathroom. He was referring to the incessant focus placed on fiqhi issues, such as going to the bathroom.
Hijab is another one of those issues that we all need to get over. Let's move on folks. Let's talk about wider social issues such as education, standing up for the rights of the oppressed (both locally and internationally), fighting against economic injustice, fighting for international justice, countering secularism and liberalism and their evil sidekick capitalism. And let us stop with this ill-advised obsession with peripheral issues.
Its all about misplaced priorities.
Looking 'Muslim' is more important than Acting Muslim.
Talking 'Muslim' is more important than Walking Muslim.
Outward expressions of superficial value have been given priority to the more substantial realms of inner purification and social activism. And why not? The former are quicker to carry out and easier to judge than the latter.
I believe there is a balance between the micro (individual) and the macro (society). Since we've lost control over our macro, too many of us have relegated our lives to dominating the micro, explaining our imbalanced infatuation with personal expressions of piety, resulting in major bouts of hypocrisy and self-righteousness.
Finally, I'm not as pissed as her, but Achelois has a nicely written rant on a similar subject.
WAW
1 day ago
13 comments:
Salaam Naeem -
Great post. It does seem that we (myself definitely included) are often too concerned with minutiae, missing the forest for the trees as you put it.
I agree with you.
dam straight. i just posted on this, sort of, but with more minutiae involved!
Ameen!
I'm a dedicated hijabi, but meh I'm so sick of hijab lectures, hijab talks, and everyone coming to me "omg sister so and so took off her hijab." What do you want me to do? As if everyone doesn't already know about hijab...
Excellent post.
I remember one day I was out with a friend and I used the fork with my *left* hand and my friend stared at me like I have just killed someone. The funny thing this friend would always refuse to pray at the mosque, even for Friday prayers... siigh
"I remember one day I was out with a friend and I used the fork with my *left* hand and my friend stared at me like I have just killed someone."
Sorry to be so anal here but what exactly is the problem with this. What if you're left handed. How are you supposed to hold a fork?
And about the actual post... Good post :) This can be found in all religions. I was recently criticized as not being a good enough follower of my own religion because I have too many friends who belong to religions other than my own. I was told that I have no faith based primarily on this criteria. This same individual also criticized my father for the same reason. Anyways, I'm not muslim but this type of thing can be found in all religions. There are always the losers out there who care more about appearances than how someone actually conducts their life
I must disagree somewhat.
You're absolutely right in that there is a disproportionate amount of time and effort spent in the details/means and not enough on the big picture/goal. But IMHO the solution isn't to "move on" as you put it .. I think we need to expand our brainspace and give both the details and the big picture the attention they deserve. Are we so intellectually lacking that we cannot focus on one without doing injustice to the other?
Anon,
Welcome to the blog!
"Sorry to be so anal here but what exactly is the problem with this. What if you're left handed. How are you supposed to hold a fork?"
The Prophet (saw) taught the preference of using the right hand for all actions, such as eating and greeting, while leaving the left hand for lesser duties, such as cleaning oneself in the bathroom.
So many Muslims consider it an act of worship when they emulate Prophet Muhammad - that covers the entire spectrum from the mundane (using right hand to eat) to the profane (striving for nearness to God).
"This can be found in all religions."
Indeed, this attitude is common across the board. Very sad.
AA-
@Amy, thanks for the comment. Part of the problem, IMO, lies with Muslim leadership which has failed to create alternate avenues for Muslims to focus their energies, such as social work.
@Sophister, I liked your post. Nice to see you awake again. :-)
@Socrunchy, welcome sis! Good point...its this infatuation that really irks me. Not sure if you read it, but Sophister's latest post deals with exactly what you mentioned (about so and so taking off her hijab)
@Ali, LOL! That's so typical of Pakistanis. The other stickler with them is zabiha meat. These folks won't ever pray, but they'll die before eating non-zabiha meat. (banging head against wall)
@Brownsandokan, good point about the balance. I alluded to that in my last paragraph. I also mentioned earlier that these issues (such as hijab) are means to the end, not the end goal themselves!
Salaam
I've recently started helping out with a youth program at the masjid. My idea at the outset was to start bringing up these issues that people talk about all the time (like hijab, dhabihah, etc) to help the girls feel more comfortable being Muslim. I just want to get them talking and thinking...
But your post is making me think I should maybe avoid those things since everyone else might be emphasizing them. Any thoughts?
Personally, I think that hijab is underrated, mainly due to the lack of Muslim women who should be wearing it but don't.
One of the things I find odd about these types of conversations is that people talk about this topic to begin with. Living in a large Muslim community, no one really talks about the need for women to wear hijab (or, vice versa, about those women who don't wear hijab). Here, most adult Muslim women wear the hijab (or "tudung" as it's known locally), although large numbers of younger women don't wear it (but do when they grow older). I sometimes think that the difference between discussion and no discussion on this topic (and other topics of similar natures) is due to the maturity level of the community (not of the individuals, but of the community). This particular Muslim community has been here for a very long time (centuries, both locally and regionally). The practice of covering is commonplace; everyone knows that it's the "right thing to do." What's to discuss?
AA- JDsg,
Excellent comment bro!
"I sometimes think that the difference between discussion and no discussion on this topic (and other topics of similar natures) is due to the maturity level of the community (not of the individuals, but of the community)."
Well said. That would clearly explain why the more immature Muslim communities in the West are constantly finding this topic (and others like it) discussion-worthy.
Another factor is the immaturity of the community leaders and imams, who beleive these peripheral issues are vital to maintaining one's Muslim identity, in the face of surrounding irreligiousity.
Another factor is the immaturity of the community leaders and imams, who beleive these peripheral issues are vital to maintaining one's Muslim identity, in the face of surrounding irreligiousity.
I would agree with this, and think you've nailed the reason right on the head: "...in the face of surrounding irreligiosity." I think the jihad for a lot of Western Muslims is to maintain a Muslim identity. Do I want to remain true to my faith, or do I want to blend in and look like everyone else? Even for men, one might say, should I wear that full beard (or goatee, in my own case) or should I shave off my mustache? With that goatee I look just like any other white guy with a goatee (a common enough look), but if I shave off the mustache I look different and perhaps set myself apart in the minds of others. (Although, ironically, in my current location, just by having the beard sets me apart from the vast majority of Muslim men, who keep a clean chin. ;) ) So I can see where identity can be a very important question for some: Who are you?
ASA,
Yeah, Naeem.. pretty much what you said. My father read this article twice and I think he wants to "steal" some of your comments on the subject.
I have many reasons behind my position on the subject, some of which already mentioned from your own article. Writing my full views on your blog would be a very long post so I won't do it here.
Perhaps, when I'm in Saudi and our families meet it could make for an interesting dinner topic.
However, I will only say for now that my blog name verses what I choose to put on my blog are that way for a specific reason that should be pretty obvious to most people.
You would be surprised the amount of flack I get for the name which only further solidifies my point.
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