How Muslims Are Treated in America - ABC Primetime

Kudos to everyone who sticks up for her! Of course this is not how all Muslims are treated in America so one cannot watch this and make rigid assumptions - nothing is in black and white - there are always shades of gray. The guy who gave the cashier a thumbs-up disgusted me, but it saddened me even more to see how many customers did not speak and were merely observers... :(

I would like to especially send out much love to the two girls who stood up for her - they are part of our coming generation, and it would be awesome if we all learned to speak our minds and to be assertive like they were! i'A.

Salaam

City Sisters: Hijab Trials

Remember Sukina Douglas, the wonderful muslimah from Poetic Pilgrimage? I found out that she is a presenter on a show called City Sisters on the Islam Channel. On this show there is a segment called Hijab Trials (however, Sukina's not in this one) where they show you how to wrap hijab in different styles.

The two presenters of Hijab Trials are Hadiya Masieh and Habiba Ali - click here for their bios.
I think it's quite a good segment, check it out.

Wham! Bam! Islam! - The 99

Recently, I came across this comic book called “The 99.” I don't read comic books too much anymore other than like the occasional Archie. I did read “Persepolis” which is a graphic novel and loved it. I went on and researched what “The 99” is about and here are some explanations the author, Naif Al-Mutawa, gave about his comic:

"In 1258, the Mongols invaded Baghdad and all the books in the library got thrown into the Tigris River, which changed color. Which color it changed to is a matter of debate," says Al-Mutawa, "but every kid in the Muslim world knows this date."

“In the comic book version, the library curators gather the books before the Mongol invaders have a chance to get them then transfer all the accumulated history and knowledge of the library onto 99 mystical gemstones. These gems are then scattered all over the world.”

“The comic's title refers to the 99 attributes of God (or Allah, in Arabic), including ‘generosity, strength, wisdom, foresight, mercy, and dozens of others that are not used to describe Islam in the media today.’”

“The comic seeks to act as a metaphor for what's happening in the Islamic world”

"The appeal of 'The 99' is that it is based on global attributes that are present in all cultures and makes a point of emphasizing that which humanity shares in common, not what separates us," he says. "The books are based on Islamic values, which are global and universal. No one religion has a monopoly on them."

too add to that... an intense trailer:


and a news report on it for some more depth:


There's a free copy of the comic on the site [the99.org] it’s pretty cool - drawn like an old school Marvel comic and what not. I don’t believe that Naif Al-Mutawa is by any means trying to embody the characteristics of Allah into these characters. In fact it’s not even a religious comic book – it’s just your basic superhero comic. The plus is that we're being exposed to more Islamic culture/history than we would from like Superman... awesome awesome.

Malindi the Giraffe - Universal and Unique Expressions of Cultures on Curricula

First off, you will probably be seeing a lot of giraffe print this spring, secondly read below to see why I chose to do a giraffe print outfit (aside from the fact that I love it).
The top is by Michael Korrs, bronze bag is by Steve Madden, Rebecca ring, and gorgeous wedges a la Via Spiga all from Nordstrom, pants from Abercrombie & Fitch. The tan scarves are from Rebirth of Chic and the brown pashmina is from Star Scarves - you can choose from either! Ooh and another idea: brown turtleneck with a wrap hijab, chiicc.

I came across this story called "Malindi's Journey" it was part of the Fulbright Association Annual Conference in Marrakech, Morocco - Program of the International Education Task Force: “The Universal and Unique Expressions of Cultures on Curricula"
Teachers in Boston added it into their curriculum as piece of the whole. Click here for a link to the pdf. I think it's a cool concept and I'm glad we're trying to expand the horizons of the young generation.

these are the highlights:
Malindi’s Journey and the curriculum provides opportunities for students to learn that Africans, Asians, and Muslims have a history that has indeed been interconnected for centuries. Students learn about the thriving trade routes of the Indian Ocean in the centuries before and after the spread of Islam. In learning about the experience of African, Arab, and Chinese travelers and traders from long ago, students learn how to step into the shoes of others and develop deeper understanding of African, Chinese, and Islamic history

Malindi is a giraffe, why a giraffe?
In 1414 the giraffe was presented to the Yong Le Emperor in Beijing with ambassadors from Malindi -- the giraffe is still used today by the Chinese as a symbol of friendship and cooperation between China and Africa


**** edit
In response to Alixianna's comment, I thought this would be relevant:

Donate to Doctors Without Borders to help them aid the people of Kenya during this unfortunate time. May Allah reward you for your efforts insh'Allah.

Here is a link to their site - and a specific article if you don't know whats up: click here.

Young Women Follow Islam's Ancient Tenets on Modesty -- but With a Modern Twist

So this is kind of an old article, but oh how fitting it is... I found this article linked on another blog - Scarf Ace: http://scarfacewearingaheadscarfinamerica.blogspot.com/

Balancing Religious Sensitivity, Fashion Sense
Young Women Follow Islam's Ancient Tenets on Modesty -- but With a Modern Twist

By Sandhya Somashekhar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 29, 2005; B01

"Isn't this so cute?" cooed Hiba Khan, admiring a loose-knit vest glimmering with a sequined brown collar at Tysons Corner Center's LVL X clothing store. Sexy, the 21-year-old Fairfax City resident admitted, but that's easily remedied with a long-sleeve top and a properly fastened head scarf.

In the hip young Muslim crowd, modesty is always in.

"I usually try not to buy anything too flashy or too revealing, but yeah, I want to look nice," she said while at the mall one recent afternoon for a little back-to-school shopping.

With summer coming to a close and classes about to start, she and a half-dozen other college students were in search of "sister-friendly" clothes -- attire that conforms to Islamic dictates but appeals to a contemporary sense of style and beauty.

But sticking to Islamic standards of modesty isn't always easy, and it doesn't always come naturally to girls raised in the United States, where MTV and Hollywood are more likely than religious texts to set fashion standards. Choosing to follow Islam's clothing guidelines is often the result of a deep desire for cultural identity or religious soul-searching -- especially for young women such as Khan, who as a teenager decided on her own to adopt the clothing standards of her religion.

That doesn't mean she and other young Muslim women want to put aside a desire to be pretty.

"We want to look beautiful, but we don't have that pressure to be sexy," said Khan's friend Khadija Amjad, 21, of Centreville, dressed in a sleek black-and-purple ensemble that stretched to her ankles. The outfit was topped by a pink-and-purple hijab , or head scarf.

Estimates of the number of Muslims in the United States vary from 3 million to 7 million. About 150,000 live in the Baltimore-Washington area, according to the American Religion Data Archive.

Muslims, men and women, are required by their holy book, the Koran, to be modest in their attire, Islamic scholars said. How the guidelines are interpreted varies by geography and family tradition, from simply avoiding form-fitting or revealing clothes to covering oneself with a head-to-toe burqa .

"The whole thing goes back to the presence of God," said Akbar Ahmed, chair of Islamic Studies at American University. "You need to be in a state of decorum. You must ask yourself: How would God like to see me?"

Rika Prodhan, 22, a recent graduate of George Washington University, never worried too much about her form-fitting outfits and cascading hair when she was growing up in Houston. But as she matured into an observant young Muslim woman, a nagging voice in the back of her head grew louder. She recalls it telling her that the Koran was unambiguous -- the body, including the hair, should be well covered.

While in college, she gradually adjusted her wardrobe to better reflect her religious convictions, eventually purging it of clothes that revealed her ankles or wrists. Finally, after much introspection, she began wearing the hijab, a big step that she knew would forever change the way she was perceived in public.

"I tried to find every reason not to wear it," she said. "But I came to the conclusion it was like listening to your parents. We may not know the wisdom behind it now, but we'll realize it later."

Her parents, she said, actually were troubled by the decision, fearful that she was becoming "too Muslim" and isolating herself from mainstream society.

Today, though, they respect her decision and are glad she wears the hijab, which she said she sees as a sacrifice for God.

These days the hijab has become a flashpoint of controversy over women's rights, religious extremism and terrorism -- a symbol in some eyes of more radical Islam. The French government banned the hijab in schools. But for Khan, Amjad and Prodhan, it's an expression of cultural and religious identity as well as a fashion accessory to be matched with a stylish handbag or jacket.

Modest doesn't have to mean ugly, said Sarah Ansari, co-owner of Artizara.com, a San Diego-based company that sells modest clothing with a modern flare.

Her site features wide-leg pants, tops that go up to the neck and down past the buttocks, and tailored jackets that cinch in a bit -- but not too much -- at the waist. Her best-selling item, she said, is a flowing tie-dye skirt festooned with sequins, a staple offering at any youth-oriented mall clothing store.

"I don't think there's anything in Islam that precludes women from looking attractive or professional," she said. "No one says you have to look like a bag lady. Actually, the Prophet [Muhammad] was known for wearing perfume, being clean and very well dressed."

One Web site, http://www.thehijabshop.com/ , offers a line of stretchable cotton athletic hijabs that are slipped over the head or fastened with Velcro rather than wrapped. Another, http://www.hasema.com/shopen , sells full-body swimsuits for women.

And dozens of sites selling trendy, modest clothes have cropped up in recent years, not only for a Muslim clientele but for orthodox Jews and conservative Christians as well.

Ansari, who is Muslim, said her customers range in age from 13 to 65 and come from a variety of backgrounds.

For Amjad, Khan, Prodhan and their friends, mainstream stores such Banana Republic and H&M offer enough choices. The latter, a Swedish retailer, is especially popular because its up-to-the-minute European styles tend to cover more of the body than standard American offerings, they said.

During their shopping trip, the young women pointed out their favorite styles of the day: peasant skirts, billowy gaucho pants that fall to the ankles and tunic-style tops that end far below the waist. They tend to buy jeans a size bigger than their actual size, fix ankle-baring skirts with a chic pair of boots and pair sleeveless tops with concealing blazers.

They will, however, occasionally buy an outfit that doesn't follow the rules, saving it for "sisters-only" -- or women-only -- events such as like sleepovers or bridal parties.

The hijab adds another accessory to the mix, they said, and has the bonus of covering up a bad hair day, Khan joked.

In all seriousness, she said, the hijab is a garment for the body and the soul.

"It lifts you up as a person," she said. "You're seen more as a person than that girl with her hair flowing around."

© 2005 The Washington Post Company

Orange Crush - Outfit

Mm orange! Haha I'm actually getting sick... and when I get sick I try to get as much vitamin C as possible i.e. oranges! So I decided that an orange-y outfit was in order. The Champaigne Sherbert Coat (how much are you loving that pattern? It's supposed to be inspired from Greek letters), L.A.M.B. tote, and bracelets are from Nordstrom. Marisa Fit Trouser Jeans a la Victoria's Secret (check them out they have some cute wide leg pants), and the sandals are from Urban Outfitters. I loove the shayla, it's from Al Muhajaba El Aniqa and I personally like mixing patterns but of course, it's just a suggestion.

salaam