VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH

VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH

Volume 81, May 31, 2009

St. Louis, Missouri

Editors: Mohamed & Rashida Ziauddin

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful

CONTENTS:

(1) ISLAMIC FASHION FESTIVAL: IS IT A MOCKERY OF ISLAM OR A SIGN OF RESURGENCE OF ISLAM ADAPTED TO THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY?

Prophet Mohamed (SAW) said: “There will be in the last of my Ummah (nation of believers), SCANTILY DRESSED WOMEN, THE HAIR ON THE TOP OF THEIR HEADS LIKE A CAMELS HUMP. CURSE THEM, FOR VERILY THEY ARE CURSED”.

Editorial:

Islamic Fashion Festival seems to be on the increase across the globe including countries of Iran, Germany, UAE, Malaysia, Turkey and most recently in Indonesia – May 25-26, 2009. Is this growing trend a mockery of the Islamic values focusing on women or a resurgence of Islam adapted to the twenty first century?

When we speak of ONE UMMAH, first and foremost we need to understand is that while we are blessed to be Muslims, we will have differences and align ourselves to different schools of thoughts. While there is no question that the Holy Quran and Sunnah are guiding beacons of light for the Global Ummah, we need to exercise more tolerance when it comes to dealing with differences amongst us.

Many members of the Tabligh movement and other pious Muslims would dismiss the Islamic Fashion Festival as a trick played by the Shaitan or yet another ploy played by the West to destroy Islam. While on the other end of the spectrum of the Global Ummah, Muslims are asking what is wrong with having Islamic Fashion Festival since the participant females still continue to cover themselves as they would in their day to day life. In this connection, it would be worthwhile to discuss the CONTEXT OF HIJAB IN ISLAM.

HIJAB IN ISLAM

IN ISLAM, MODESTY IS SO IMPORTANT THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL HADITHS IN WHICH THE PROPHET MOHAMED (SAW) HIGHLIGHTS MODESTY AS ONE OF THE MAIN ASPECTS OF FAITH.

In Islam hijab is given the wider meaning of modesty, privacy and morality. Hijab includes not only the covering of body, but methods of behavior before members of the same or opposite sex, promoting privacy for females to ensure modesty, decency and above all respect and worship of Allah. (Muneeb Khan- “HIJAB ISLAM REQUIREMENT NOT FASHION”)

Allah says in the Holy Quran:

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts from sin and not show of their adornment except only that which is apparent, and draw their head covers over their necks and bosoms and not reveal their adornment except to And that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O you Believers Turn you all together towards Allah in repentance that you may be successful.” (24:31).

Abu Dawood narrates that Aishah (raa) said: “Asma’s the daughter of Abu Bakr (raa) came to see the Messenger of Allah (SAW) wearing a thin dress; so Allah’s Messenger (SAW) turned away from her and said: “O Asma’a, once a female reaches the age of puberty, no part of her body should be seen but this – and he pointed to his face and hands”.

When the Prophet Mohamed (SAW) related verse 31 of Surat An-Nur, which commanded the believing women to cover themselves, the women of Madinah immediately went home to make appropriate covers for themselves out of their clothes. No one forced them to, and the Prophet certainly did not force them to – they did so out of their own free will.

Prophet Mohammed (SAW) mentioned that there are women who are Kasiyat ‘ ariyat, meaning they are both “covered and naked at the same time”. This refers to those who wear clothes that are too tight or short or transparent and therefore reveal their bodies, therefore completely missing the point of hijab.

Hijab is really a matter of choice, just as believing in Allah is a matter of choice for all humans, and praying to Him is a matter of choice. ALLAH WILL NOT FORCE ANYONE TO BELIEVE IN HIM OR PRAY TO HIM. ALLAH WILL NOT FORCE ANYONE TO WEAR HIJAB. HE TELLS US THAT HE HAS COMMANDED THE BELIEVING WOMEN TO COVER THEMSELVES MODESTLY FROM HEAD TO TOE, BUT THEN LEAVES THE CHOICE OF WHETHER WE WILL OBEY HIM OR NOT UP TO US.

Our role as Editors of the VOICE OF GLOBAL UMMAH is to be a UNIFYING FORCE and not a DIVISIVE FORCE for the Ummah. There are hundreds of Muslim websites from self styled experts claiming to represent the true Islam and if anybody has a different opinion from theirs, immediately they are branded as “Khafirs” or “Munafiqeen” . As for us the Editors of VOGU, we will be the first to say that we are sinners and are still in the learning process and to learn from you, Islamic Scholars and the Ummah at large.

We would like to appeal to all Muslims worldwide to be more tolerant in terms of dealing with differences from other Muslims within our global Ummah in terms of our perception of the values of Islam.

ISLAMIC FASHION FESTIVAL - MAY 25-26, 2009, JAKARTA, INDONESIA

1. Rudy Chandra creations: Models display creations by Indonesian designer Rudy Chandra during the two day Islamic fashion Festival in Jakarta (AFP/Adek Berry)

2-Models present creation by Indonesian designer Ian Adrian during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

3. A model presents a creation by Indonesian designer Malik Moestaram during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

4. A model presents a creation by Indonesian designer Malik Moestaram during the second day of Islamic fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009. REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

5. A model presents a creation by Indoensian designer Malik Moestaram during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta May 26, 2009. REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

6. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Ian Adrian during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta May 26, 2009. REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

7. A model presents a creation by Indonesian designer Defrico Audy during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta May 26, 2009. REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

8. A model presents a cration by Indonesian designer Defrico Audy during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta May 26, 2009. REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

9. A model presents a creation by Indonesian designer Defrico Audy during the second day of islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta May 26, 2009. REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

10. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Arifan Mas during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

11. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Arifan Mas during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

12. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Arifan Mas during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

13, Models present creations by Indonesian designer Jarumas during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

14. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Khadani during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

15. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Khadani during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

16. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Hajaba during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

17. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Hajaba during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

18. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Atim Agoy during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

19. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Atim Agoy during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

20. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Ida Royani during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

21. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Tom Abung Saufi during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

22. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Khoon Hooi during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

23. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Khoon Hooi during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

24. Models present creations by Indonesian designer Tom Abang Saufi during the second day of Islamic Fashion Festival in Jakarta, May 26, 2009 REUTERS/Enny Nuraheni

MALAYSIA