Friday, September 15, 2006

TRASH 'EM!

Posted on www.raw.com.pk/blogs/sadaf on July 10, 2006

"If you dont send this to 7 people....face badluck for 7 years!"
uggghh...another one of those emails and iwill smash my laptop!!!
On second thoughts, why smash MY laptop?!!

I just wish there was some way of stopping these silly chain emails - especially when half the world sends them out with the name of Allah (SWT), the Holy Prophet (SAWW) and the Ma'sumeen (AS)....i mean, do they even realise that the Most Merciful Lord, who has ordained us to perform beautiful and blessed acts like the Salaat, sawm and hajj - would limit to punishing us to years and years of bad luck because we dont send out an email to other people?

I think this is a sad way to do tableegh - if even it IS a means of tableegh (spreading the message)....and i dont understand what message are the 'originators' of these sort of emails, trying to portray about Islam?
All it's doing is scaring people from the wrath of Allah (SWT) by not sending an email - rather than having them fear the wrath of Allah (SWT) for the sins we commit everyday....

Indulging us into superstitions that dont even make sense - who else can the originator of these sort of schemes be? Satan...ofcourse! the over efficient and workaholic SHAITAANN....working 24/7 to weaken our eemaan with such trivial things..
At the back of our heads, we know its him.. and we know that these emails - whether or not we send them out, will not cause any harm or good........but how easily those words scare us 'If you dont send this out........you will face.....' etc etc - or how easily those words tempt us when we read 'send it to 7 people and you will hear good news'....etc etc...
sigh...

alas; Man has to wake up to realise the worth of his acts and their consequences...which are definitely not destined by silly emails!!!

Posted by Sadaf Zahra on www.raw.com.pk/blogs/sadaf at 8:07 PM

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Our 'raw' experience ripens..

September 7, 2006
Our 'raw' experience ripens..
www.raw.com.pk/blogs/sadaf

RAW - sounded pretty 'raw' and undefined to me initially.....i didn't quite understand it when i was first introduced to it..for me, it was just that they needed writers, and phatz knew i wrote for the community, so she recommended me to them...

Initially, when I was asked to write for RAW - 'an online entertainment magazine' as Ahmed said to me, i was wondering whether i was really needed here..But what immediately and continuously motivated me was the plot, and more than anything, Nabeel's approach and passion to RAW. If it weren't for him, and his profound thoughts, plans, aims and efforts, I would'nt have learnt so much on the way to the 'harvest'....

i always felt i couldnt do justice to it - because I was already involved with community works, but somehow, RAW had a different feel to it..earlier, i was just writing for a very restricted audience of Shi'ite readers; hence it was easy to just write, and for them to read and accept what I wrote out of the many resources available to us..but RAW was far more challenging!

Because, unlike writing for our community, for everything i wrote on RAW, I knew I had to cross-check with all other sources as well as the authenticity of facts I state with lot more understanding and responsibility. It was a process in which, I learnt so much more about the diversities, the different aspects and undiscovered areas of Islam, and the current happenings. (Alhamdulillah)

It also let me see the outside world; I think ever since I turned overly religious, I had developed the habit of shutting myself from the outside world, and thus only relating myself to people who were just like me. For the rest, I had only prayers for hidaayat; and a relation of concern - but no further interaction as such.

RAW opened doors of understanding to me, that INFACT, I should definitely keep myself aware of the things happening beyond the 'Islamic' aspect in life because that IS what Islam really is about: balancing the Worldly life with the spiritual self. I couldnt just shut my eyes against everything that is so prevailing and more attractive than Islam is to every other person. And the actual person to thank here is Nabeel.

Really, not only did he mentor me towards writing what will be 'readable' (though I havnt really been able to successfully apply it in my articles that came on RAW - but I had it lined up in the articles that were to come......) but he was just there to guide us all towards the mission again and again.. He introduced us to wonderful technology; I mean, I didnt ever blog till RAW.. and so many other things on the forums, etc....everyday, in everything we did, served as a wonderful learning experience at RAW - because Nabeel gave us every opportunity from which we could avail the best and express the best...

RAW was a skillfully driven ship with a very dedicated and headstrong sailor; he did whatever it took to make this ship sail the best in all kinds of weathers and sea conditions. Now, it's just time to hit the shore for a while, till he takes off again with his team with the same enthusiasm, and Inshallah with more energy and help from Allah SWT. (Inshallah)

Last but not the least, thanks to RAW, i met a wonderful family- people from all walks of life....A different set of readers altogether, a global web-team - most of us dont even have a clue of what each of us even look or sound like (!!); and the warm set of friends on the forums. It was so nice that we bonded because we all had this attachment with RAW...and we knew we were voicing out to people who were interested to know..

I have so much to ink out - but the above is my amongst the last array of thoughts in my head...I'm going to miss this..and maybe I'm in denial - but I'm thinking, we'll be back again..and if not us, Nabeel will surely be back again..with something bigger, better and even more fruitful, Inshallah

will continue to writing my blogs inshallah on: http://www.sadzee.blogspot.com
God bless u all.. and keep us (RAW team) in du'as...

over & out!
Sadaf Zahra
http://sadafeyzahra.spaces.live.com
http://www.sadzee.blogspot.com


Posted by Sadaf Zahra at 11:00 PM - 7th September 2006

Hijaab-e-rella: the Muslim 'Cinderella'

This is a little long, but a funny and good read :) Cinderella, with an Islamic touch and twist in the story - lol..enjoyy!
courtesy of Queenjafri on www.shiachat.com (great great great write up queenie!)
- S x Zahra

HIJABERELLA

Once upon a time, in a far away land, in a small farm out in the country, there lived a young girl named Aliya. Aliya's mother had died when she was very little, and her father got married again to a woman named Hinda, who supposedly converted to Shia Islam. Hinda had two daughters of her own from a previous marriage to a Wahabbi, that ended up in an ugly divorce. Her daughters were twins named Ayesha and Hafsa and they were the same age as Aliya. Aliya's dad was never at home because he had a business overseas, so Aliya was left alone with these strangers, her Step-mother and step-sisters.

Aliya was mashallah se, a very good, practicing muslimah and strict about her hijab. Her stepsisters on the other hand, were the complete opposite. An outsider would have thought they were hindus. They would make fun of Aliya and constantly tease her claiming that she would never get a husband because she was always covered up, in addition to her quiet and reserved personality. For these reasons and many more, Aliya was always feeling insecure about herself and it had an effect on her self-esteem as well.

One day as Aliya was browsing through the mail, she saw a letter from the masjid. She opened it and her heart leapt with joy, because the young, heart throb Moulana who had come the previous Muharram was coming again to conduct a Marriage Seminar this weekend.

Just then her step sisters walk in and Hafsa asks, "What are you smiling at and reading Aliya?"

Aliya replied, "Oh its nothing," as she quickly put the flyer in her lap.

Ayesha raises her left eyebrow suspiciously and grabs the flyer from Aliya's grip.

As her step sisters preyed on the flyer, Aliya was beginning to lose what little hope she had, thinking her chances were very dismal, because now she had two more competitors in addition to all the other fair maidens in the community.

Then Ayesha said disappointedly, "Oh God, just our luck! The bottom of the flyer says All women must wear proper Islamic hijab and dress, or else they cannot enter. What the hell is that all about? That is sooo not fair!!! Now we cant go." Hafsa looked confused and said, "Hmm, what about that green trouser suit I wore at Bunty's wedding last summer? I know its sleeveless, but what if I wrapped the dupatta around?"

Aliya said, "By proper Islamic hijab and dress, they are referring to a scarf and an abaya."

Hafsa cried, "But I don't have any hijabs or abayas, what shall I wear!"

Hinda had just entered the room and Ayesha ran and showed her the flyer. "Look Mom, there is going to be an Islamic Conference on Marriage at the masjid tomorrow, and that buff Moulana Hussain ShabanAli, you remember him right mom, the cute one with the goatee, well he is going to be the speaker."

Hinda carefully analyzed the flyer and claimed, "Hmm interesting indeed. My sources tell me that he is in fact coming to look for a wife."

The twins looked at each other and started jumping up and down.

"What are you two idiots getting happy about? Have u thought about what you are going to wear?" their mother scolded.

"Mom, but we don't have any proper Islamic dress…," Ayesha said disappointedly.

"Not to worry girls, I'm sure Aliya wouldn't mind if you borrowed something of hers." Aliya looked up stunned, as all eyes were focusing on her like a hawk ready to prey on an innocent squirrel, "Hmmm Aliya??"

Aliya nodded and quietly replied, "Of course they may borrow mine."

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ******

The big day was here and Aliya was helping her step sisters get dressed. She taught them how to pin a hijab and walk in an abaya.

"What are you going to wear Aliya?" they asked, as they were hastily splattering their makeup on, hoping that Aliya would wear an ugly black abaya.

"Oh you'll see, it was my mother's best one."

After Aliya put on her mother's cream colored abaya with white flowers densely embroidered throughout, along with white beads and sequins, the step sisters stared in bewilderment, their blood fuming, and their face green with envy. How dare Aliya save the prettiest dress for herself!

They immediately approached Aliya, complimenting her on how beautiful she looked in her mother's abaya. Then, as Hafsa stroked the sleeve, feeling the soft material, she tugged the sleeve so hard that it ripped off. Aliya was stunned and cried in fear, as Ayesha grabbed the hijab and started cutting it with scissors.

Then Hinda walked in and pleased with the scene that was unfolding, calmly said, "Oh dear Aliya, just look at yourself, you can't possibly expect me to take you to the masjid looking like that? I'm afraid you'll have to sit at home until you learn how to dress like a lady." With that said, the three witches took off, their evil laughter echoing throughout the neighborhood.

Aliya started weeping with a heavy heart, as her only chance to ever get rid of living with these evil step sisters and step mother was looking rather bleak. Just then she heard a knock on the door. She peeked out the window and saw a beautiful woman dressed in a white chador. Aliya opened the door and politely greeted the stranger.

"Salaam Alaikum," the woman said in a heavy accent, "I am coming from Syria and have just done Bibi Zainab's Ziyarat. I have lovely hijabs and abayas for sale at very special discounted price."

"I'm sorry but no thanks," Aliya said as she was about to shut the door.

"No wait," the woman negotiated, "I can sell this to you at very, very low price. Only 5 Euros for lovely abaya with matching scarf. How do you like this deal? I am making you offer you cant refuse it!!"

Aliya replied, "I would if I could, but unfortunately, I have no money."

The woman saw that Aliya was disturbed, tears swelling up in her eyes, eyes puffy from crying, and her clothes were torn apart. "Oh my dear child, what happened to you?"

Aliya then broke down and started crying, while she explained everything.

"Don't cry you poor child," the woman said as she patted Aliya on the head, "Here, you can borrow this one, but please keep the tag on. I am going to America to start a business there. You know, I can buy these hijabs and abayas in the Middle East at almost nothing, a price so very cheap, and then I can go to America and make fortune by charging 10 times the price. But child, I am leaving for the airport tonight at midnight. I will come by again to pick it up, so please be here on time."

Aliya agreed and accepted the woman's kind gestures. She picked out a sparkly silver abaya with a matching shawl and niqab. The abaya was long and flowing, with bell sleeves and tassels hanging at the sides of the hijab.

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ******** Meanwhile at the masjid, Ayesha and Hafsa were pleased to find out that there would be no curtain separating the boys and girls. They took advantage of this and walked around gawking at all the young men. Then they spotted the moulana sitting alone by the podium, reviewing his books and lecture notes.

"Oh my God, there he is! Now's our chance!" Hafsa grabbed Ayesha and they ran up to introduce themselves. "Ass slaaalayykoooo Hussain," they said in a flirtatious tone and batted their mascara soaked eyelashes.

The moulana was rather surprised at the boldness of these two girls to approach him in this manner and, on top of that, they called him Hussain! Only his father can call him by his first name. Everyone else is supposed to say "Moulana Sahab." The moulana, with his gaze lowered, mumbled "walaikum salam."

"Oh my God, he talked to us!" Hafsa whispered, "I think he likes us." The girls giggled amongst each other and the moulana was getting a bit irritated, thinking when will they go away? The girls kept giggling and smiling, making the moulana feel very uncomfortable. Finally he slammed his book down and said, "Can I help you? What are your names?"

Ayesha replied proudly, "My name is Ayesha and this is my twin sister Hafsa." The girls beamed their crooked yellow teeth as they gave him another big smile. Hafsa even winked at him! The moulana looked at them in disgust and replied, "Ya Allah, what filthy names! Is this your idea of a joke?"

The girls walked back to their seats in utter confusion, for they had such little knowledge of Islam that they didn't even know the historical implications of their birth names.

It was now time for the lectures to begin. Moulana Syed Hussain Shabanali took to the podium and starting delivering his lecture on the importance of marriage. Midway through his talk, he saw a light glowing in the back. He gazed in wonder as this light slowly became bigger, and to his surprise, it formed into a beautiful silver ninjabi.

As everyone turned around to see who it was, the moulana started stammering, "Subhanallah… Mashallah… Inshallah" he mumbled as he looked in awe.

Coming back to his senses, the moulana said, "I think this is a good time to take a break now for some refreshments inshallah. Everyone please recite Salawat."

"Finally! I thought he'd never shut up," Hafsa said.

"I know right. These Islamic lectures are so boring. Man Im starving." Ayesha replied.

"Dude, lets make a run at the buffet table," Hafsa rubbed her big stomach. "Oh My God! Theres nihari!!!!! I love nihari!!!!"

The girls ran so fast to the buffet table that Hafsa tripped on her abaya and fell flat on the steaming hot pan of nihari and almost knocked the entire table down.

With nihari dripping all over her clothes, Hafsa looked down in embarrassment, as everyone stared at her like she was some circus freak.

Ayesha burst out laughing hysterically, "Oh my God Hafsa you fat cow!"

"Oh shut up! This is all your fault!" Hafsa said as she threw big pieces of meat at her sister.

Aliya grimaced in pain as she saw her abaya drenched in nihari. But to avoid a confrontation with her stepsisters, she strolled to the corner to get some tea.

Mesmerized by her sparkling, innocent eyes, the moulana approached Aliya and said, "What time does a lovely hoor al ain like you have to be back in heaven at?"

"Midnight," Aliya said with her gaze lowered.

"Oh I am really sorry sister in islam, I think that was the wrong approach on my part. Let me try again.." He cleared his throat and said, "Can I have your wali's number so I can ask for permission to court you?"

Just then the clock struck midnight, and Aliya quickly ran out of the masjid.

"Wait!!!" the moulana cried, as he ran after. "I didn't even catch your name. Please don't leave like this." As she turned around to tell him, a sudden gust of wind blew her niqab off right into his hands.

He caught a glimpse of her beautiful face and their eyes met, Aliya felt too embarrassed to speak, and quickly disappeared off into the darkness.

The moulana was so lost in his own little world, that he didn't even realize that Aliya was gone. He tried to find her, but did not know which way she went.

"Moulana sahib, the break time is over now. Get back to the podium nah," a fobby kid shouted out.

The moulana looked into the night one more time before halfheartedly going back inside to resume his job.

But he was determined to find the girl, the one who wore the silver niqab. He frantically went from door to door of all the young girls houses, asking if the niqab belonged to any one of them.

Then he arrived at Aliya's home, but coincidentally Aliya was not home, as her wicked stepmother sent her off to run some errands knowing that the moulana was on his way.

As Ayesha and Hafsa eagerly tried the niqab on to see if it fit them, the moulana was disgusted at the way their big fat noses were sticking out of it.

Seeing his _expression, Hinda got very defensive of her daughters and started lecturing him on his arrogance. "To love someone is to let them go," Hinda stated cunningly. "Life goes on, you cannot just sit there and reject every beautiful girl because your heart is set on some fantasy girl who you don't even know what her name is! Who knows what her whereabouts are, she is probably living in the other side of the world, and you will never meet her again. This is the reality of life my dear. It is not a fairy tale, so don't expect a happy ending."

The moulana gripped the niqab firmly and got up. "Masalama Aunty, I must be on my way to continue my search. My time is running out."

The moulana's time did run out, as it was now time for his flight back to Canada. As he checked in his baggage at the airport, the moulana was really depressed as all his efforts went down the drain. He could not get his mind off that hijabi and he still carried her niqab in his pocket.

If only he didn't act so stupid and use those lame pick up lines! If only he had introduced himself properly and asked for her name in the beginning! The moulana, with a heavy, broken heart sat there, clutching the niqab in his hands and thinking about the biggest mistake of his life, his missed opportunity, and wondering how different things could have been, if only he said the right things.

"Excuse me. I think you have something of mine."

The moulana looked around baffled at this sudden and random accusation.Aliya pointed to the niqab and smiled. He gazed into her familiar eyes and exclaimed, "You are the one. The one I've been looking for! You are my Hijaberella! "

"Excuse me. But I believe that niqab belongs to me," another voice said.

Aliya turned around at the familiar voice and saw that it was the nice lady who let her borrow the abaya. "I thought you were gone already," Aliya said,"I was going to return it, but you never stopped by like you said you would."

"Just keep it child, consider it your wedding present, " the woman said with a smile.
And they all lived happily ever after .:)

Monday, September 11, 2006

"Thanks for not responding.."

July 8, 2006,
"Thanks for not responding.."

..probably is the remark that all the Newspaper Agencies, Advertising companies, Journalists, Photographers, Fashion designers, Catwalk models and all related to the entertainment industry probably say to themselves out of relief – after they have successfully appealed to you with their ‘less clothes and more skin showing’ theory.

The media today, has reached so far in exposing so much of nudity to us today because we choose to be nonchalant to it! So much for living in an Islamic country – where every shop in the mall tries to compete with one another to adorn a mannequin with the least amount of clothes; where every leading daily newspaper aims to have as many barely-dressed celebrities and local residents photographed to add glamour to their distribution; where every advertising agency targets to create more and more advertisements that encourage awareness of sex and lust in our adolescents; where every upcoming fashion designer is applauded and awarded for the skimpy outfits they conceptualize for our local market..the list is endless, and we can’t even begin to complain, because our silence has been interpreted as our acceptance.

It is sad that because the UAE, or Pakistan or any other so-called Muslim country wants to make way towards progress, they use the media to cultivate vulgarity– or rather, rip off our morals – by supposedly advancing themselves in media, society and tourism, to make their name stand out on the World map.

So what if we live in an Islamic country where we hear the Adhaan five times a day; where restaurants are shut all day during the month of Ramadan for the sake of respecting the Muslims and their month of fasting; where we can avail Halaal food?

It is still an Islamic country where while the Adhaan is being recited, music is playing loudly simultaneously; same restaurants that don’t serve food during the day time to respect Ramadan, serve alcohol and Haraam food and drinks after Sunset; where issues like when people who go clubbing face racism to enter these venues, make the headlines of our Daily papers; where prostitution, rapes, gay and lesbian issues, sexual harassments are on a rise, and so casually discussed and thus encouraged!

All this is further encouraged by our silence. Why aren’t we speaking up? Are we blind not to see the nudity & immodesty in attire and behavior that is coming out on the streets, in the schools and colleges, the malls, the beaches, the cinema halls, and most importantly, OUR HOMES? Are we dead souls now? Can’t we sense the ‘wrongness’ in these things anymore?
At the end of the day, it is not really about being religious in thoughts – but about having a clear outlook of life. Do we want our children to be as nonchalant and skimpy in their dressing? Do we want to rip the innocence off our youth – the same innocence we grew up with?

Indeed we need to raise ourselves according to the age and era we live in, but not at the cost of sacrificing our principles, our shame and our morals. What good are cartoons like Johny Bravo? How much of a Muslim country does UAE look like in Ahlan Masala? How easily do we read and discuss Bipasha Basu & Paris Hilton saying they would love to be known as sex symbols?

It is mere hypocrisy on the part of our governments – in Islamic states – that they choose to progress by using such means. There is more chastity and modesty in Western civilization than that which prevails in our so-called Islamic countries. If we go to any part of America, Canada, Europe & Australia, a larger proportion of the population that indulges in partying, drinking, skimpy dressing, etc – are those of supposedly ‘Eastern’ origin. Hence, we can’t blame ‘Western ideology’ and its cultural invasion for what the media has made us – or the likes of us - today. Had it been a grave concern for us, we would’ve not let it reached so far today. We could have still had censored movies on television and cinema, custom Movie trailors and posters for the Middle East audience, clean advertisements, decent editorials and newspaper event coverage, custom made apparel and accessories for the Middle eastern / Subcontinent region, etc – like it had been till the 1900’s..

‘Welcome to the 21st century!’ is all that we can say to justify that? Wake up people! These things around you might have become an ‘everyday’ norm for you, but until you don’t say anything, this will only get worse. Who is asking to eliminate the technological and economical advancements? This is all about voicing yourselves against the explicit and vulgar content surrounding us which is slowly diminishing the respect of a regular human being down to his carnal desires.

Needless to mention, the sources where you choose to voice out should be effective ones; even the letters to the editors at the local daily newspapers skip out on issues like this, because there’s one in ten letters that comes with a complain regarding the explicit nature of content and advertisements they publish – and the rest are just concerned about the rising rents and racism in night clubs and bars in Dubai (all of which get published immediately).

Islam, like all religions, encourages to enjoin the good, and forbid the evil – as mentioned continuously in the Holy Qur’an. Hence, it’s still not too late to raise our voices against the corruption we are experiencing in our Society because of letting the Media have an upper hand.
In the end, we choose to make our surroundings the way we want. If we accept the explicit and vulgar content surrounding us, we will have no morality left in the way we look at human beings around us. We still have time to stop the media corruption out here, and remind ourselves of our roots, our culture, our values and morals, our religion and most importantly, our respect for one another as humble human beings– which is all slowly dying out with our silence in acceptance of the evils around us...

Posted on www.raw.com.pk/blogs/sadaf by Sadaf Zahra at 9:47 PM Comments (0) TrackBacks (0)