Spirit of Ramadan inadvertently led me to become Muslim

I have been sharing personal accounts of non-Muslims who have embraced Islam in my previous number of posts. And each personal account has a different motivation that has led a person to embrace Islam. Today I am sharing the personal account of Lauren Booth, who is a broadcaster, a journalist and also sister-in-law of Britain's ex-prime minister Tony Blair.

In her account which has been published in the Islamic Bulletin, she says that she visited a family in Rafa refugee camp and met a family of sixteen cramped inside a tent. She was greeted by the woman of the house and when she ushered her in, she asked her what it had been to live in a refugee camp during the month of Ramadan with almost little or no food? And the woman replied, "Allhamdulillah!! with such joy I couldn't help but smile. And as I sat there on the floor of this home eating what little leaves that they had; a bit of hummus, a pita bread that was our Iftar. 

She says she felt angry as to why God made hungry people go even more hungrier in the month of fasting. And the answer she received is worth reading:

"So, I turned to this sister and I said: " With all due respect I want to ask you, why does your God starve you in Ramadan? Why do you fast in Ramadan...sister, just explain to me? This lady who never owned a hand bag, whose children didn't have, never had shoes. Whose children I was sitting with didn't have pen or paper to do any drawings, she said to me: "Sister we fast in Ramadan to remember the poor" and a key went to my heart and unlocked it."

Later she visited Iran and visited the Fatima Mosque, named after the beloved daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the prophet of Islam. There she says she made a simple prayer: "Allah don't give me anything. I have everything. Thank you for this journey, but Allah don't forget the people of Palestine."

There she saw families with their children moving about in the courtyard of the mosque who were busy in their religious chores. She slept the night there and woke when the call for the pre dawn prayers was called. She said that just to be with everyone around, she offered prayer like everyone did. But she was still not for Islam in any way so far.

But a candle of truth had been alight in her heart and when she returned to London, a few days thereafter, she embrace Islam. Then she says she opened Qur'an for the first time and opened the first surah of Qur'an Surah Al Fatiha and said: "Hello Sarah where have you been, welcome to the religion of peace, joy and tranquility and I couldn't put it down. Someone once told me and I feel much like that before Islam I had given up on God but God never gave up on me. Allhamdulillah."

Her daughters reacted to her new faith and asked three very simple yet very intelligent questions:

1-Mummy when you're a Muslim will you still be mummy?

I said: When I am a Muslim you know what, I will be a better mummy, they said: "Horrayyy!!"

2-Mummy will you drink alcohol? 

When I am a Muslim, I will never drink alcohol again and they said "Horrayyy!!"

3-And this is an interesting and thought-provoking question from girls as small as 8 and 10: When you're a Muslim will you show your chest? 

I said why would you ask such a question? They said when you come to the school and your chest shows we are embarrassed and we hate it and we want you to stop it.  When I am a Muslim, I will cover all this area and to which they said: "we love Islam." 

She says reading Qur'an everyday strengthens one's Imaan (Faith), better than yesterday everyday.She says: "If you live in a non-Muslim country those of us who do it can go very low very quickly, you must read the Quran. Most of all your just not on the path of Islam if you come to Islam like me, if you're a Muslim you are on the path as well so make sure that you don't miss those signs in everyday life. All praise is to Allah (swt)."

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about fasting and importance of month of Ramadan, please consult our reference page: Ramadan - A month of fasting and Blessings. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān and our special page on Embracing Islam: The Revert Experiences

Source | Do listen to the interview on which this post had been based HERE

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Bravo !! My Ultimate Decision has its own exclusive domain now

When we started the blog, it was hosted on Blogger platform with a blogspot.com extension. However seeing the interest of its world wide readers in such a short time since the hosting of blog in April earlier this year, we have decided to our own exclusive domain name.

Allhamdolillah, today we get our own name as www.myultimatedecision.info. Thus today we heave achieved our first hallmark milestone today with our exclusive domain name.

Please use our new address to continue to read about Islam and personal accounts of those who took their ultimate decision to convert to Islam. May Allah bless you, and everyone of us. Aameen.

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A Young Girl's Steadfastness leads her Entire Family to Embrace Islam

Never have I ever felt so emotional than while reading the personal account of a middle aged woman of embracing Islam and the changes in her life that finally turned the hostility of her entire family for embracing Islam into becoming Muslims themselves. This change of heart of the entire family couldn't have been possible had she not been steadfast in her decision and display of a good Muslim manners that finally moved hearts.

This is the story of a Southern Baptist girl, a radical feminist, and a broadcast journalist whom Allah led to Islam merely by a computer glitch. 

She was a devout Christian and always lived her life like a good Christian do. However, in 1975, while enrolling for a scholarship she pre-register her for degree on Recreation. Having registered herself she got late to begin her classes by two weeks and in those two weeks due to the computer error much had changed. When she joined the college, she was surprised to know that her admission has been mistakenly have been made in Theater class, requiring students to perform in front of others.

Being a rather religious girl, she persuaded the teacher to change her subject, who declined the request as it was already two weeks since the classes began. She then asked the teacher to enroll her in another branch of performing art. And when she got an alternative, she says she was "shocked by what she saw. The class was full of Arabs and "camel jockeys". And decided not to go back to the class anymore.

But back home, her husband reassured her that God had a reason for everything and that she should think before quitting or else lose the scholarship offered to her. Having thought about it, an idea struck her that she would resume her class with a mission: To convert the Arabs to Christianity. She says: "I proceeded to explain to them how they would burn in the fires of hell for all eternity, if they did not accept Jesus as their personal savior. They were very polite, but did not convert. Then, I explained how Jesus loved them and had died on the cross to save them from their sins. All they had to do was accept him into their hearts." They still did not convert, and so she decided to do something else: "I decided to read their own book to show to them that Islam was a false religion and Muhammad was a false God".

So she borrowed a copy of Holy Qur'an to find out flaws in there to convince her Arab classmates to change their faith. But more she read the Qur'an and related books on Islam, the more she grew closer to the truth she was reading. This had a telling effect on her personal life as she stopped going to bar with her husband and stopped eating pork. She became more quiet and distant which led her husband into suspecting her of having an affair with someone else. And thus one day they separated.

Then one day a Muslim religious scholar met her and invited her to Islam. Though she outrightly rejected his offer, she asked him to clear her queries about Islam. "He was very patient and discussed every question with me. He never made me feel silly or that a question was stupid", says she. And instead of being offended to her questions, he welcomed her to ask more as "He explained that Allah had told us to seek knowledge and questions were one of the ways to accomplish that."

And then it dawned on her the truth Islam carries and became a Muslim on 21 May 1977, when she was only 24 years. But with her conversion came seclusion and a wrath from her family. She lost her friends and had no fun anymore. While her sister attempted to put her in a mental health institution, his father drew out a gun to kill her for he said she'd better be dead rather than suffering in the deepest of Hell. But she stood on to her belief. Later even her hijab cost her job with one final blow yet to come.

His husband filed for a divorce, which meant the future of the custody of her two minor children she loved most dearly. Rather the judge giving her the custody of her children, he gave her two choices: Either renounce Islam and get custody of the children, or keep Islam and leave the children. She was given 20 minutes to make a decision. It were the most difficult 20 minutes of her life as on one side there were two loving children whom she adored very much and on the other hand stood her decision to leave Islam or continue to be a Muslim. She also knew that she wouldn't be able to bear any child in future as doctors had told her earlier. She says: "I prayed like I had never done before … I knew that there was no safer place for my children to be than in the hands of Allah. If I denied Him, there would be no way in the future to show my children the wonders of being with Allah."

And then she decided to continue to be a Muslim at the cost of sacrificing her children. But then she took solace from the following verses of Qur'an:

Allah! there is no god But He – the Living, The Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things In the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede. In His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to his creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory). (Quran 2: 255)

Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah?" Ah! Verily the help of Allah is (always) near! (Quran 2: 214)

Thereafter she continued to live alone but never left her family and continued to post cards on their special days with a verse from Qur'an or Hadith (Hadith is the way Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, explained Qur'an to this followers or the way he lived his life in total submission to the commandments of Allah), but not mentioning the source lest it offended them.

The change in her was soon visible in her manners, politeness and behaviour, which started to be noticed and appreciated by her family. And then things started to change for good. It was her grandmother, then 100, who converted to Islam, but died just days after. She believes: The day she pronounced Shahada, all her misdeeds had been erased, while her good deeds were preserved. She died so soon after accepting Islam that I knew her "book" was bound to be heavy on the good side. It fills me with such a joy!"

Her father who was well read otherwise was to take the next step. He read a book on Umar ibn Khattab, a companion of the Prophet who persecuted the early Muslims before he converted to Islam. One day he was going to kill the Holy Prophet when someone told him to first take care of your sister who had already converted to Islam. With the same drawn sword, he stormed into her sister's house to kill her. But upon hearing some of the verses from the Qur'an that his sister was reciting, he recognized the truth and went straight to the Prophet and accepted Islam. So her father also became Muslim and so did her mother and sister who once thought she had become delirious by changing her birth religion.

Still more was to become. His son who had become adult also embraced Islam and when he was 21 he called his mother to let her know his ultimate decision. And then some sixteen years since their divorce, her ex husband also embraced Islam too. He apologized to her for the divorce and wanted their daughter too should come under the fold of Islam.  And she forgave for she was now more forgiving.

Perhaps the greatest reward for her was yet to come. She who had married another person, in the meantime and despite the doctors' verdict that she could never conceive another child, Allah blessed her with a beautiful boy. If Allah (swt) makes a gift to someone, who can prevent Him? It was truly a wonderful blessing from Allah (swt), and so she named him "Barakah". She says: "True, Allah has tested me as was promised, and rewarded me far beyond what I could ever hoped for".

This is the most inspiring personal account of Aminah Assilmi, who is now the President of the International Union of Muslim Women. She delivers lectures nationwide and is on high demand. It was her organization that successfully lobbied for the "Eid Stamp" and had it approved by the United States Postal Service. She is now working on making the Eid Day as a national holiday in USA.

I hope her inspiring personal account of how she embrace Islam, her difficulties as Muslim and the rewards by Allah for steadfastness will inspire many non Muslims to find the true truth in Islam and help them taking their Ultimate Decision to embrace Islam.

Read her complete account at: The Islamic Bulletin

To read personal accounts of many a celebrity who have reverted to Islam, please visit our page: Embracing Islam: Revert Experiences.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

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Jewish perception of Islam as Idolatrous

I have written a few posts as to how Islam and other faiths differ. Today I just thought to find out how other faiths view Islam. And I was appalled to come across some Jewish sites which gave out a view point of the Jews about Islam and labeling it as Idolatrous.

This was something that came as a total surprise as we as Muslim while believing in the total absoluteness of Allah, God as understood by Jews and to an extent by Christians in their overall concept of Trinity, also dispel any notion of bowing in front of idols of any kind. In fact, upon conquest of Makkah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cleansed the Ka'aba of all idols placed in there by the infidels.

But then another revelation still amazed me that speaks of the total ignorance of the Jew scholars about who we bow in front of when praying. Read the following excerpts, with special reference to the lines highlighted in bold italics:

I mentioned earlier that almost all authorities accepted Maimonides’ view of Islam. There is, however, one authority, who, while most cryptic, appears to be leaning in the opposite direction. In a medieval commentary erroneously attributed to the famous sage, Rabbi Nissim Gerondi (c.1310‑1375), but actually written by an unknown later scholar, one finds a shocking opinion, in the course of “R. Nissim’s” discussion, of Christians bowing to holy objects and Muslims bowing to Muhammad[!] Although the comment is not entirely clear, it appears to be saying that even though the Muslims do not turn Muhammad into a God, one must regard their (supposed) action of bowing down to him as idolatry, thus putting them in the category of idolaters.

Now here comes the ignorance of the Jew scholars. We Muslims while regard Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in extremely high, revered and exalted position as the last of all the prophets chosen by Allah and blessed him with the last of the holy scriptures The Holy Qur'an, we never pretend or mean to be bowing in front of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) while prostate in our prayers for he was just a human being chosen by Allah to be His last prophet. 

Say (O Muhammad), "I am only a man like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God. So, whoever would hope for the meeting with his Lord - let him do righteous work and not associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." (Qur'an Surah Al Kahf 18:110)

Equating someone to Allah is the biggest sin in Islam:

In Islam, shirk (Arabic: شرك‎ šhirk) is the sin of practicing idolatry or polytheism, i.e. the deification or worship of anyone or anything besides the singular God, i.e. Allah. Literally, it means ascribing or the establishment of "partners" placed beside God.

In the Holy Qur'an, Allah the Almighty at many places warn the people against equating anyone with Him, for He alone is worthy of worship, is the master of the universe and master of the Day of Judgment:

Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal (with Allah.: They love them as they should love Allah. But those of Faith are overflowing in their love for Allah. If only the unrighteous could see, behold, they would see the penalty: that to Allah belongs all power, and Allah will strongly enforce the penalty. (Surah Al-Baqara, 165)

Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. That we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will). (Surah Al-Imran, 64)

“Surely Allah does not forgive that anything should be associated with him, and forgives what is besides that to whomsoever He pleases, and whoever associates anything with Allah, he devises indeed a great sin.” (Surah an-Nisā’ 4:48) 

In the light of above commandments of Allah in the Holy Quran, we as Muslims cannot think of bowing or prostrating in front of anyone except Allah alone. We revere Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) the same way Jews revere Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) and Christians who revere Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him). No one bows in front of prophets, so do we Muslims too. It is only Christians who consider Jesus as one of the Gods when they talk of Trinity. In that sense Christianity could be labelled as Idolatrous, not Islam.

Thus, calling us idolatrous is extremely absurd, highly preposterous, objectionable and detesting. I wonder how come the so called learned Jewish scholars could ever label us idolatrous, thinking we bow and prostrate in front of a human being and not in front of the Almighty Allah, the creator of this universe who has no parallel. In fact, equating someone with Allah is considered as the most unforgivable sin.

I wonder how come Jews could think or interpret Islam Idolatrous by saying that Muslims prostrate in front of a prophet who was human like all of us. In this age of technology and availability of instant and detailed knowledge about religions and faiths, one can easily find the truth. Gone are the days when religious preachers, in this case rabbis, could mislead their people through their sermons.

However, there are some Jewish scholars who view the above mindset as incorrect. Read the following views:

This is a dramatic deviation from Maimonides’ view, and it is shocking that “R. Nissim” does not even refer to his predecessor. In any event, the authentic R. Nissim did not hold to this view, and we are in possession of a *responsum of his in which he declares unambiguously that Islam is not a form of idolatry.

* a written reply by a rabbi or Talmudic scholar to an inquiry on some matter of Jewish law 

In fact, some scholars believe that:

Hardly any attempt is made in the classical Jewish sources to distinguish between different kinds of pagan or primitive worship such as animism, fetishism, and polytheism. All forms of worship that are not purely monotheistic are treated together as idolatry and severely condemned. 

I hope I have tried to put across the view point of us Muslims and that of those who think that Islam has been misunderstood and being followers of a monotheist Allah, we cannot be labeled as Idolatrous.   

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

Reference Sources: | 1 | 2 | Read more verses of Qur'an condemning those who equate someone with Him HERE

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Quick Guide to Consultation

Writing on subjects like religion is not an easy task, specially when the traffic audience is intended to be the non Muslims. Initially when I started writing posts, things looked simple and I though the Blue Bar would be adequate to encompass the most essential subjects and topics that a non Muslim may like to read and consult.

But as the posts grew, subjects became interconnected and required more details and additional information. Thus the Blue Bar became inadequate to pin in important subjects and required more sub menus to make things meaningful and easily understandable. And I had to insert sub menus or folders to clarify subjects requiring more than just one post.

In order to help my readers, I have added a special page "Quick Guide" which can be found at the top left corner of the blog after the "Home" and "About" button as can be seen in the following screen shot of the main page of the blog:

So do consult the Quick Guide page if you find difficulty in walking through various sections, topics and sub topics of the blog for easy and easy consultation.

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Hijab for Muslim Women

Hijab for Muslim women is more often than not a subject of discussion among non Muslims and many of them take the concept of Hijab against the basic human rights of the women. In this post I will try to put across of the concept of Hijab and misconceptions related to this word and why Muslim women have been directed to cover themselves by Allah in the Holy Qur'an.

First of all let be clarify the misconception about the word Hijab which is often related to the head covering of the Muslim women. In Arabic, the word Hijab means a partition, normally made of a cloth which was hung at the door of the ancient Arabia to shield the inside of the house for the outsiders as keeping the door closed was not a norm. Even this practice continues in many parts of Arabian villages and even in many other Muslim countries.

The use of this word is specially used in the same context in the following verses of Surah Al Ahzab 33:53-

O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation. Indeed, that [behavior] was troubling the Prophet, and he is shy of [dismissing] you. But Allah is not shy of the truth. And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition (Hijab in Arabic). That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not [conceivable or lawful] for you to harm the Messenger of Allah or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allah an enormity.

The word Hijab in Arabic also means separation between deity and mortals (42:51), wrongdoers and righteous (7:46, 41:5), believers and unbelievers (17:45), and light from darkness (38:32).

As for the head covering of Muslim women, the correct word used in Qur'an is Khimer, meaning a loose headdress worn by the women with a part covering their bosom. And the Allah's commandment as for covering of women's head and bosom is explained in these very verses of Surah Al Nur 31-32:

وَقُلْ لِّـلۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ يَغۡضُضۡنَ مِنۡ اَبۡصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحۡفَظۡنَ فُرُوۡجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبۡدِيۡنَ زِيۡنَتَهُنَّ اِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡهَا​ وَلۡيَـضۡرِبۡنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلٰى جُيُوۡبِهِنَّ​ وَلَا يُبۡدِيۡنَ زِيۡنَتَهُنَّ اِلَّا لِبُعُوۡلَتِهِنَّ اَوۡ اٰبَآئِهِنَّ اَوۡ اٰبَآءِ بُعُوۡلَتِهِنَّ اَوۡ اَبۡنَآئِهِنَّ اَوۡ اَبۡنَآءِ بُعُوۡلَتِهِنَّ اَوۡ اِخۡوَانِهِنَّ اَوۡ بَنِىۡۤ اِخۡوَانِهِنَّ اَوۡ بَنِىۡۤ اَخَوٰتِهِنَّ اَوۡ نِسَآئِهِنَّ اَوۡ مَا مَلَـكَتۡ اَيۡمَانُهُنَّ اَوِ التّٰبِعِيۡنَ غَيۡرِ اُولِى الۡاِرۡبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ اَوِ الطِّفۡلِ الَّذِيۡنَ لَمۡ يَظۡهَرُوۡا عَلٰى عَوۡرٰتِ النِّسَآءِ​ وَلَا يَضۡرِبۡنَ بِاَرۡجُلِهِنَّ لِيُـعۡلَمَ مَا يُخۡفِيۡنَ مِنۡ زِيۡنَتِهِنَّ​ ؕ وَتُوۡبُوۡۤا اِلَى اللّٰهِ جَمِيۡعًا اَيُّهَ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُوۡنَ‏

Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their head-covers (Khimer in Arabic) over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or *those male attendants having no physical desire*, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed. (Surah An-Nur 24:31)

In the above verses, it is amply highlighted that the concept of modesty is not only restricted to women alone. Even all men are commanded to lower their gaze (that is not staring women lustfully) and guard their private parts. This means a man is not to open his private parts to anyone except his lawfully wedded wife. This is a great commandment with far reaching ramification which lay the basis of piety, modesty and respect. And it is the very basis of directing men from extra marital relations.

As for the women, the same commandment is given with certain additional requirements. We all know that a woman's naked or exposed body is lustful due to which many ills are born in societies where women are not dressed modestly. That is why Allah's commandment for the women is to  wrap [a portion of] their head-covers (Khimer in Arabic) over their chests" and have been asked no to appear before men except for the relations clearly spelt out in the above verses. Even the women have been asked "not to stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment."

Talking of the Khimar being used before the advent of Islam, the women of Medina used to put one part of their headscarf Khimar on their head and the remaining at the back exposing their ears and neck and the upper front of the body. With this commandment of Allah "Place the khimer over the bosoms,” what actually is being told to the women that by doing so their ears and neck will also be hidden beside their upper half of the body including their bosom. This thus formed a covering to ensure modesty and piety of the woman from the lustful gazes of men.

Explanation of Khimar by Muhammad Asad:

The noun khimar (of which khumur is the plural) denotes the head-covering customarily used by Arabian women before and after the advent of Islam. According to most of the classical commentators, it was worn in pre-Islamic times more or less as an ornament and was let down loosely over the wearer's back; and since, in accordance with the fashion prevalent at the time, the upper part of a woman's tunic had a wide opening in the front, her breasts were left bare. Hence, the injunction to cover the bosom by means of a khimar (a term so familiar to the contemporaries of the Prophet) does not necessarily relate to the use of khimar as such but is, rather, meant to make it clear that a woman's breasts are not included in the concept of "what may decently be apparent" of her body and should not, therefore, be displayed.

Interestingly when the nuns in Christianity wear the same cloak, no one objects as nuns are cloaked exactly how a modest and pious women should when out of her house. If the dress of nuns is the dress of modesty, why it is objected for Muslim women who Allah wills to appear with honour, dignity and piety.

And then for older women, there is yet another concession given to them as for Khimer is concerned:

And women of post-menstrual age who have no desire for marriage* - there is no blame upon them for putting aside their outer garments [but] not displaying adornment. But to modestly refrain [from that] is better for them. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. Surah An-Nur [24:60]

In Saudi Arabia and some other countries, these instructions and commandments have been interpreted meaning a cloak covering the entire body of the woman. This to an extent is true for the reason that a head to toe cloak obscures the contours of the body of the woman which are so lucrative to men. However, if a Khimer is aided by loose dress covering the contours of a woman, the purpose is the same. However, there is no mention of covering of the face of a woman which some Muslim women very ardently observe which creates problems in their identity.

You may also read our post: O Children of Adam!! wear raiment of modesty and righteousness

For more posts on Women in Islam, please refer to our reference page: Women in Islam. You may also refer to our reference pages: Islam and the rest of the World and Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

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The Prophet Muhammad: A Biography led me to Islam

While writing about an introduction to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), I quoted the reference of Barnaby Rogerson's book “The Prophet Muhammad: A Biography”. At that time I did not know that one day I shall be writing a post about a young man who embraced Islam just by reading this book.

Yusuf Derbeshyre was a typical Christian young man enjoying his life as all other Christian friends of his did by going to clubs drinking and making merry. But then a small incident changed the complexion of his who life.

In the account which I read he says that he had the habit of taking books in his backpack whenever he traveled to while away time at the airports or when in waiting for a transport. It so happened he went to WHSmith to buy a book or two for his travel to Greece. In the bookstore, he accidentally flipped over a bookshelf and a few books fell down. While picking up the books, Barnaby Rogerson's book “The Prophet Muhammad: A Biography” caught his eye and he read the first page and it looked interesting. He read the second page. Took it to the counter, and bought it and took it on holiday.

Reading the biography, his quest to know more got triggered and he though that  he wanted to learn more. So when he came back, he went to the local mosque and started to know more about Islam. Seeing his quest, one day Imam of the masjid said: “Well to tell you the truth, the best way to understand Islam is to become a Muslim.” He says he did not think twice and became a Muslim.

While reading the account of many companions and relatives of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he specifically got interested in Ḥamzah ibn ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib, Prophet's paternal uncle, who lived a life exactly like him before embracing Islam.

Then he went on to describe very emotionally his visit to the battlefield when he went for Hajj to Saudi Arabia where the Battle of Uhud was fought in which Hamza fighting bravely embraced martyrdom.

Here read the account in Yusuf Derbeshyre's own words:

I went to the cemetery, then got off the bus. As I was walking across, it was like I was walking through tranquility. I felt so emotional, and tears were just streaming down my face, and I couldn't stop them, and I didn't know why.

So I kept going, and as I got off this sandy patch unto the little paved area, it all went, and I thought that was strange. I went to the cemetery. I made my dua to the martyrs and Hamza. And made my way back to the bus when I said “Come on it’s time to go”, and as I walked across that patch of ground it happened again, just crying. Someone asked me “What’s the matter?” and I told him, to the man who was there next to me because he was translating for me. He said “When our Prophet found out what happened to his uncle he cried, and just wept and wept.” And I said “Maybe he just left something there for somebody who wanted to find it,” and I felt it here, in my chest, for Hamza and it hit me fully.

So amazed was he with his personal experience that on his return he told his wife that he would name his son Hamza if a boy is born to them. However when a baby girl was born to them, he asked his mother to suggest a name for their girl. After some research, his mother told him to name her Saffiyah, the name of Hamza's sister (Saffiyah binte ‘Abd al-Muṭṭalib).

To read personal accounts of many a celebrity who have reverted to Islam, please visit our page: Embracing Islam: Revert Experiences.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

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If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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