Muslim Girl Problems:

Dating. Halaal. Halaal Dating.

Enough Said.

Muslim Girl Problems: When Aunt Suzie’s in Town

Thanks to Azra for the title!

I hate THAT time of the month during Ramadaan. 

The only thing worse than being caught eating in the office and asked by your non-Muslim Boss why you not fasting is nearly being caught almost eating by your Muslim boss and then him asking are you fasting?

Why do Muslim men/boys ask Muslim women/girls if they are fasting? Do you really want an answer to that? Okay... 

“No, I’m not”.

And the stupidest response I ever got from that is... 

“Why?”

I want to just smack them on the heads when they ask that question! As modern as I am...I hate discussing it. So my answer is...

”why do you think?”

But get them on a bad day... 

“I don’t know”.

And all I can think is ***Ay...I see the Roza got you son***

Ramadaan 2012

I truly love this time of year.

This Ramadaan, I would like to gain steadfastness, clarity, and contentment.

(*

A Fairy Tale come to life

I have a confession to make. I am just a little obsessed with Fairy tales. I’m convinced its the ever after crap. That’s what gets me every time.

I loved Snow White and the Huntsman. *two very enthusiastic thumbs up*

 

Even though it should have been called The Sexy Huntsman and the Witch, it was still a good version of Snow White. The fundamentals stayed the same...good vs. Evil and the desire for beauty and power. And the key to doing a good Fairy Tale makeover is to keep to the fundamentals of the story.

I thought Mirror Mirror was funny and cute...and give it *two thumbs up*. But this was better.

I really do want to go on and on about how much I love Chris Hemsworth and why he is my man for 2012 but *sigh* I shall continue... 

The real show stealer (besides the sexiness of Chrissy Poo) is without a doubt Charlize Theron in the role of the witch.

In second place, the mirror. It was beautiful and unique. And that voice was a little scary.  

The movie was about the visual, and anyone who didn't see it on the big screen seriously missed out. And the best thing they could have done was to keep Kirsten quite...I know...I sound bad, but it is true.

The ending...well its obvious that I'm on team Huntsman. But I do think its very stupid to end the movie like that. Whats with the female empowerment...give me a fairy tale the way its suppose to be any day!!

And a sequal? I'm not too sure hows that gonna go down. But at least I'll be able to see Chrissy Poo again!

I’ve created my own Movie grading system:
*Big high five* – Five stars

*Two very enthusiastic thumbs up* - Four stars

*Two thumbs up* - Three Stars
*Thumb up* - two stars
*A Nod* - One star
*Kick-in-the-face* - Worst Movie of all time.

What I thought of the Movie Material

This is long overdue. And it’s probably not relevant. But I need to say it.

As far as South African movies go, this is up there with the best of them.

Why?

It’s not because it’s funny and that every second extra was someone’s, brother, friend or Imaam.

But because South Africa is a country that is defined by race and the Muslims are divided by it. The movie didn’t make that dividing relevant at all! *Big high five* for that. A brownie was just that, a brownie and not Malay/Coloured or Indian Muslim.

I did think that some of the history of the place and the politics was needed in the beginning. I was watching the movie, understanding all the social things, but nothing about the bigger political picture which was a silent catalyst in the unfolding of events. I had to ask my mother about it in the end.

This movie also made me look at SA audiences differently. It shocked me that many young people, who had seen it, didn’t understand the political thread either, BUT never mentioned it. It just shows you what a good looking hero and a few jokes can do to a movie*lesson for SA movie makers*.

Rage of an anti-Feminist

My mother taught me to always except the message. No matter where it comes from, be it a bible verse, Buddah saying or whatever. There is a lesson in the message that I was meant to learn.

I initially liked the facebook group Pure Matrimony, not because I wanted to find a husband on their site but because my friend sent me a status of theirs and I liked the message. From time to time, they really do have good messages for people.

But for some reason their misogynistic undertones are getting louder and louder.  There are some things that you can ignore because you can say its cultural interpretation, but I think I have finally reached my limit.

This morning they put a very nice post about Jummah:

“1. *Men are obligated to participate in Friday Prayer*. Allah (S.W.T.) said in Surat Al-Jumauah, (verse 9), what can be translated as, "O’ you who believe! When the call is proclaimed to Prayer on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is best for you if you but knew."

In addition, prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) had warned from not attending Friday Prayer. In an authentic hadith reported by Abu Dawod, Tirmithi, An-Nesaii, and Ibn-Majah, that the prophet (P.B.U.H.) said, "Who ever does not attend three Friday prayers, (without a valid excuse) Allah will set a seal on his heart"

Can everyone just stop and read that again.... *Men are obligated to participate in Friday Prayer*.

So I say:

Please explain to me, how does this specify to Men only? You state *Men are obligated to participate in Friday Prayer* But the Verse starts "O’ you who believe!" And the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) starts the Hadith with "Who ever does not ". So I don't understand how you specify only Men. Clarity would be much appreciated.

 Then Someone replies

wot is tryn 2 say is,men are oblige they must atend jumah prayer in the mosques while women are not oblige but they can atend jumah @ mosques if they wan to. Jumah mubarak to all!

So I say:

That is what the interpreter is saying, but there is no evidence in what they are quoting, that women are exempt from or can choose whether they want to go to Jummah.”

This is what seriously annoys me. Look, I don’t go to Jummah, because it’s not something I grew up doing. But I don’t believe that women are exempt for attending or even making Jummah at home.

“O’you who believe!” Does that mean that only men believe?

“Who ever does not” Does that mean only men?

If that is true that every time those phrases are stated you can cut women out of that equation.

Someone emailed me and said that he had a friend that was muslim and she felt that she was being oppressed by her muslim male counterparts.

I replied saying that this woman is from a ‘continental’ country, where the culture is dominated by a patriarchal society. The issues that she faces are no different to that of Christian or Jewish or even non-believing women face. Because, the emphases is not on the religion. Its not Muslim vs. Non-Muslim, its Men vs. Women.

This is a fight that has gone on for centenaries, and you know what it’s probably going to go on for a few more.

But essentially, Islam if practiced properly, and not according to cultural interpretation, gives women an equal position in Society! Idea’s that a woman’s place is in the home, cut off from knowledge, intellectual debate; travelling; or being seen and actually living within society is the biggest load of BULL I’ve ever heard. And I implore anyone who has evidence that proves me otherwise to come forward. I mean real evidence, not verses and hadiths that are taken out of context.

I think I have to do real research about this topic (Jummah and females) because it is one that keeps on rearing its ugly head.

But I’m going to do one final statement. Female oppression is not something that occurs in Islam alone. Across all religions, cultures, social economic status, you will find females that are oppressed. I don’t understand why, the minute people read the word, Muslim or Islam than for some reason its so much worse.

It isn’t. It’s all the same. 

Dear Muslim Women...

...who are desperate to get married

Read this very carefully. You’re first and foremost duty and loyalty as a Muslim is to your Lord. 

Your first job...is to worship...not to be a wife. 

The reason you were born was not so that you can one day buy your own washing machine and make hot hot rotis on the tawa. 

Your duty is to your one Lord. That’s it! Everything and anything comes secondary to that. Yes, getting married, having children, being a good daughter and in-law, sister, friend, and citizen is part of that but NOT the soul purpose.

It is absolutely disgusting how some men believe that a muslim women’s soul purpose in life is to get married. Shame on you and your house for teaching you that!