| By Arya,
on 25-09-2006 20:41
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Published in : , Stories |
FREE- SAMI YUSUF
What goes through your mind?
As you sit there looking at me
Well I can tell from your looks
That you think I’m so oppressed
But I don’t need for you to liberate me
My head is not bare
And you can’t see my covered hair
So you sit there and you stare
And you judge me with your glare
You’re sure I’m in despair
But are you not aware
Under this scarf that I wear
I have feelings, and I do care
CHORUS:
So don’t you see?
That I’m truly free
This piece of scarf on me
I wear so proudly
To preserve my dignity...
My modesty
My integrity
So don’t judge me
Open your eyes and see...
“Why can’t you just accept me?” she says
“Why can’t I just be me?” she says
Time and time again
You speak of democracy
Yet you rob me of my liberty
And all I want is equality
Why can’t you just let me be free?
For you I sing this song
My sister, may you always be strong
From you I’ve learnt so much
How you suffer so much
Yet you forgive those who laugh at you
You walk with no fear
Through the insults you hear
Your wish so sincere
That they’d understand you
But before you walk away
This time you turn and say:
But don’t you see?
That I’m truly free
This piece of scarf on me
I wear so proudly
To preserve my dignity
My modesty
My integrity
So let me be
She says with a smile
I’m the one who’s free
The song Free by Sami Yusuf is about a Muslim woman wearing a hijab. Most of my friends ask me why do I need to wear hijab? Isnt it hot especially during summer? Well, theyre non-Muslims and Muslims who asked me. I believe wearing of hijab (headscarf) is one of the most controversial issues occurring today. Well, the ultimate answer to that question is very simple; Allah has told us to do so. But of course the elaboration is needed here.
First, I would like to quote from
Suran An-Nur(The Light)24:31 They (the believing women) should draw their head coverings over their bosoms...". . Surah Al-Ahzab (33:59) states: "O Prophet [PBUH] Tell thy wives and daughters and the believing women that they should put on their outer garments; that is most convenient in order that THEY MAY BE RECOGNIZED (as Muslims) and not be molested."
Allah is the Master Planner and the Most Supreme Strategist and part of His idea is to unite all Muslims from different communities; be it of different races, nationalities or skin colour. It does not only mean that wearing of hijab makes a woman to be identified and attacked easily. But it means the curiosity that we stir up especially amongst the non-Muslims will somehow draw their attention towards Islam. Therefore, wearing of hijab is part of conveying the message of Islam :-) Wearing of hijab means making a statement of identity. Anyone who sees a Muslim woman with a piece of scarf knows that she is a Muslim who covers herself by concealing her sexuality and allowing her femininity to be brought out. Secondly, it’s an act of modesty, chastity and dignity which are the fundamental ideologies that liase with Islam. Briefly, we can say it’s a kind of dress code (dress of a Muslim) which not only reveals herself as a Muslim but her inner being. We can also say it is an act of faith which establishes a Muslim’s life with respect and dignity.
Muslim women want to be recognized as individuals not by physically (as in by our looks or features) but mentally (personality and mind). We of course do not want to be portrayed as a sex symbol and lusted after. And on the other hand, we want to be treated equally just like men. But certainly men and women are of different gender which means they’re not the same and each of them has their own different roles in all aspects of life.
BEAUTY is what Allah has given to all women. When a woman covers herself, she is recognized as a Muslim woman who is judged by her faith and personality. In the presence of her husband, family or women friends, a Muslim woman may wear whatever that pleases her. But when she goes out especially in the presence of other men other than her husband, she is expected to wear a scarf and dress that covers her hair and all parts of her body and most importantly not to reveal her figure. From the Islamic perspective, the main goal of a woman wearing a hijab is to actually achieve or attain the inner spiritual beauty. Not superficial beauty. Now only I recalled one of my friends who said “if you have it, you should flash it” as opposed to Islamic principles where the purpose is not to let the Muslim women to be treated as a display or a sex symbol in order to get attentions. We know that the media “then and now” has used women as their main selling products. We see women exploitation occurring ubiquitously. In this case, we could say that women’s honour is denigrated and degraded.
Some asked me why most Muslim women are kept at home and isolated from social life. Well, I feel that this is due to the fact that the Muslim men have used the name of Islam for their act of injustices. Islam does not say to keep the Muslim women in the kitchen and away from the society. This is a MISCONCEPTION. From the true teachings of Islam, Muslim women are allowed to be part of the society and they deserve the equal rights as men do. So in conclusion wearing of hijab means liberation. Inner spiritual liberation.
Last update : 25-09-2006 20:41
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