I used to look at veiled women as quiet, oppressed creatures and now I look at them as multi-skilled, multi-talented, resilient women whose brand of sisterhood makes Western feminism pale into insignificance.
POLITICIANS AND JOURNALISTS just love to write about the oppression of women in Islam ... without even talking to the females beneath the veil.
They simply have no idea how Muslim women are protected and respected within the Islamic framework which was built more than 1400 years ago.
Yet, by writing about cultural issues like child brides, female circumcision, honor killings and forced marriages they wrongly believe they are coming from a point of knowledge.
And I am sick of Saudi Arabia being cited as an example of how women are subjigated in a country where they are banned from driving.
The issues above have simply nothing to do with Islam yet they still write and talk about them with an arrogant air of authority while wrongly blaming Islam. Please do not confuse cultural behavior with Islam.
I was asked to write about how Islam allows men to beat their wives. Sorry, not true. Yes, I'm sure critics of Islam will quote random Qur'anic verses or ahadith but all are usually taken out of context. If a man does raise a finger to his wife, he is not allowed to leave a mark on her body ... this is another way of the Qur'an saying; "Don't beat your wife, stupid".
Now let's take a glance at some really interesting statistics, hmm. I can almost hear the words pot, kettle, black. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, four million American women experience a serious assault by a partner during an average 12-month period.
On the average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands and boyfriends every day . . . that is nearly 5,500 women battered to death since 9/11.
Some might say that is a shocking indictment on such a civilized society, but before I sound too smug, I would say that violence against women is a global issue. Violent men do not come in any particular religious or cultural category. The reality is that one out of three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Violence against women transcends religion, wealth, class, skin color and culture.
However, until Islam came on the scene women were treated as inferior beings. In fact we women still have a problem in the West where men think they are superior. This is reflected in our promotion and wages structure right across the spectrum from cleaners to career women who make it into the boardroom.
Western women are still treated as commodities, where sexual slavery is on the rise, disguised under marketing euphemisms, where womens’ bodies are traded throughout the advertising world. As mentioned before, this is a society where rape, sexual assault, and violence on women is commonplace, a society where the equality between men and women is an illusion, a society where a womens’ power or influence is usually only related to the size of her breasts.
I used to look at veiled women as quiet, oppressed creatures and now I look at them as multi-skilled, multi-talented, resilient women whose brand of sisterhood makes Western feminism pale into insignificance. My views changed after the truly terrifying experience of being arrested by the Taleban for sneaking into Afghanistan in September 2001 wearing the bhurka.
During my 10-day captivity I struck a deal that if they let me go I would read the Quran and study Islam. Against all the odds, it worked and I was released. In return I kept my word but as a journalist covering the Middle East I realized I needed to expand my knowledge of a religion which was clearly a way of life.
And no. I'm not a victim of Stockholm Syndrome. To be a victim you have to bond with your captors. During my imprisonment I spat, swore, cursed and abused my jailers as well as refusing their food and going on hunger strike. I don't know who was happier when I was released - them or me!
Reading the Quran was, I thought, going to be a very simple academic exercise. I was stunned to discover that ut clearly stated women are equal in spirituality, education and worth. A woman’s gift for child birth and child-rearing is very much recognised as a quality and attribute. Muslim women say with pride they are homemakers and housewives.
Furthermore The Prophet (pbuh) said that the most important person in the home was The Mother, The Mother, The Mother. In fact he also said that heaven lies at the feet of the mother. How many women make it into the top 100 power lists for simply being a "great mother"?
With Islam choosing to remain at home and raise children takes on a new dignity and respect in my eyes, similar to those sisters among us who choose to go out to work and have careers and professions.
I then began looking at inheritance, tax, property and divorce laws. This is where Hollywood divorce lawyers probably get their inspiration from. For instance the woman gets to keep what she earns and owns while the man has to stump up half his worth.
Isn’t it funny the way the tabloid media gets very excited over the prospect of some pop or film stars pre-nuptial wedding agreement? Muslim women have had wedding contracts from day one. They can choose if they want to work or not and anything they earn is theirs to spend while the husband has to pay for all the household bills and the upkeep of his family.
Just about everything that feminists strived for in the 70s was already available to Muslim women 1400 years ago.
As I said, Islam dignifies and brings respect to motherhood and being a wife. If you want to stay at home, stay at home. It is a great honor to be a home maker and the first educater of your children.
But equally, the Quran states if you want to work, then work. Be a career woman, learn a profession become a politician. Be what you want to be and excel in what you do as a Muslim because everything you do is in praise of Allah (swt).
There is an excessive, almost irritating concentration or focus on the issue of Muslim womens’ dress particularly by men (both Muslim and non-Muslim).
Yes, it is an obligation for Muslim women to dress modestly but, in addition, there are many other important issues which concern Muslim women today.
And yet everyone obsesses over the hijab. Look, it is part of my business suit. This tells you I am a Muslim and therefore I expect to be treated with respect.
Can you imagine if someone told a Wall Street executive or Washington banker to put on a t-shirt and jeans? He would tell you his business suit defines him during work hours, marks him out to be treated seriously.
And yet in Britain we have had the former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw describing the nikab - the face veil revealing only the eyes - as an unwelcome barrier. When, oh when, will men learn to keep their mouths shut over a woman's wardrobe?
We also had Government Ministers Gordon Brown and John Reid express disparaging remarks about the nikab - both these men come from over the Scottish Borders where men wear skirts!!
Then we had a series of other parliamentarians enter the fray describing the nikab as a barrier for communication. What a load of nonsense. If this was the case can anyone explain to me why cell phones, landlines, emails, text messaging and fax machines are in daily use? Who listens to the radio? No one switches off the wireless because they can not see the face of the presenter.
The majority of sisters I know who choose to wear the nikab are actually white, Western reverts who no longer want the unwelcome attention of those few leering men who will try and confront females and launch into inappropriate behavior. Mind you, there are a couple of London sisters I know who say they wear the nikab at anti-war marches because they can't stand the smell of spliffs.
I am afraid Islamophobia has become the last refuge of the racist scoundrel. But the cowardly, chauvinistic attacks launched - largely by men - is unacceptable to Muslimahs as well as their secular, female sisters from the left.
I was a feminist for many years and now, as an Islamic feminist, I still promote womens' rights. The only difference is Muslim feminists are more radical than their secular counterparts. We all hate those ghastly beauty pageants, and tried to stop laughing when the emergence of Miss Afghanistan in bikini was hailed as a giant leap for women's liberation in Afghanistan.
I've been back to Afghanistan many times and I can tell you there are no career women emerging from the rubble in Kabul. My Afghan sisters say they wish the West would drop its obsession with the bhurka. "Don't try turning me into a career woman, get my husband a job first. Show me how I can send my children to school without fear of them being kidnapped. Give me security and bread on the table," one sister told me.
Young feminist Muslimahs see the hijab and the nikab as political symbols as well as a religious requirement. Some say it is their way of showing the world they reject the excesses of Western lifestyles such as binge drinking, casual sex, drug-taking etc.
Superiority in Islam is accomplished through piety, not beauty, wealth, power, position or sex.
Now you tell me what is more liberating. Being judged on the length of your skirt and the size of your cosmetically enhanced breasts, or being judged on your character, mind and intelligence?
Glossy magazines tell us as women that unless we are tall, slim and beautiful we will be unloved and unwanted. The pressure on teenage magazine readers to have a boyfriend is almost obscene.
Islam tells me that I have a right to an education and it is my duty to go out and seek knowledge whether I am single or married.
No where in the framework of Islam are we told as women that we must do washing, cleaning or cooking for men - but it is not just Muslim men who need to re-evaluate women in their home. Check out this 1992 exert from a Pat Robertson speech revealing his views on empowered women. And then you tell me who is civilized and who is not.
He said: "FEMINISM ENCOURAGES WOMEN TO LEAVE THEIR HUSBANDS, KILL THEIR CHILDREN, PRACTICE WITCHCRAFT, DESTROY CAPITALISM AND BECOME LESBIANS".
Here is an American man living in a pre-Islamic age who needs to modernize and civilize. People like him are wearing a veil and we need to tear that veil of bigotry away so people can see Islam for what it is.
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| 1. Written by
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, on 10-05-2009 15:09 Salam alaikum Sister, Subhan Allah loved what you said and you said rightly that abusing of women is depends on the man not on religion or culture. Yovonne I'd like you to come to Pakistan to clear the misconceptions about Talibans or atleast give an interview to PTV or pakistan television or Geo or any other channel like that I would be very obliged Jazak Alah khair |
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, on 09-05-2009 10:21 congratulations! to accept the TRUTH of islam, even though many many muslims are not following the true teachings of islam but even then we musllims form the best society in the world today despite media propaganda, we are the biggest community of teetotaler in the world, we are the community who gives maximum charity, we are the community which has alive family values, we are the only community where woman are much more liberal and less oppressed compared with western societies where women are treated as a sexual tool! in the name of mistresses and pornography! even today despite not following complete islam despite this the country who has the least crime rate is a muslim country Saudi arabia the country who has the least rape rate is a muslim country the country where any women can go out on the street alone wearing gold without the fear of being raped or kidnapped or robbed ! May ALLAH guide all human beings to the guidance of this pure religion ISLAM, and may ALLAH guide all muslims to be united on QURAN & SUNNAH and the way of salaf us saaliheen. so that we can truly form the ideal society as it was present in the time of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alyhe wasallam and first two caliphs of islam abu bakr and umar radi allaho anhuma. |
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, on 04-05-2009 23:53 Assalam Alaykom hafidaki allaho wa raaki okhti al karima. |
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, on 02-05-2009 23:23 From Morroco, I say you thank you.God bless you.You can't imagine how proud I'm of you.You are wonderfull. |
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, on 29-04-2009 01:05 Salam alaikum may Allah bless you with Jannah. this is all what i can say to you. you are the source of inspiration. we all love you so much. |
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, on 21-04-2009 09:46 may ALLHA (swt) protect u inshaalah |
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, on 21-04-2009 03:51 Allahu akbar!!!! Allah has sent a strong woman to the world like you. so many expectation to all woman in this earth to follow your step to wake up from stupidity!!! Allahu akbar! allahu Akbar!! there is no exalted without Islam! |
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, on 11-04-2009 07:07 masha allah ,barakallahu feekum sister, very happy and glad to read your excellent and unbeatable response to the western critics of islam. your article is a kind of that which would definately shut the dirty mouth of muslim critics. |
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, on 28-03-2009 05:16 Subhannallah, a good opinion... May Allah SWT bless you. |
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, on 26-03-2009 14:36 Alhamdulillaah, yaa Ukhtie... Wake up Muslim Ummah Our unity has been infected! |
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, on 24-03-2009 22:38 As I was reading the last para about men thinking that cleaning is a women's duty, i was waiting to read about phophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) setting the examples to muslims when he used to clean the house and cook food, while "culture" continues to dictate otherwise. very well articualted. may Allah accept your good deeds. |
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, on 19-03-2009 09:25 Dear Sister. I m software developer from india on java enabled technology .Me And and All my friends who are away from me are talking about you,your efforts to search the truth in afganistan.I m the person who guessed that time when you were in taliban custody that inshallah you would be our islamic sister Allah accepted my prayer.My All friends from Aligarh muslim university ,orkut,and of my company are asking the net meeting on the topic of global economical crisis and ,problems and solutions,ichances of slamic ways to solve the exixting crisis. We would be glad if you can write a article as a soltion for the existing crisis. Your brother Mohd Tariq Anwar |
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, on 18-03-2009 22:43 you want your head chopping off. what an embarrassment to western civilisation you turned out to be |
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, on 18-03-2009 16:08 May Allah SWT reward you and all the Brothers and Sisters on the mission with Viva Palestina convoy Ameem. |
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, on 09-03-2009 09:12 salamun alaikum sister , after reading your article my heart was filled with joy and i became so happy that i cannot explain. You have done the great job while explaining the trut of nikab and at the same time slapped the uncivilized western culture who consider themselves as civilized. At last I would like to pray allah that He may save your dignity, honour and wll make u the model of the muslim women who sometimes doubts about nikab due due to the conditions of the women as visible in the world. wasalaam |
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, on 09-03-2009 01:19 Islam come to make balancing position men and women in amar ma\'ruf wa nahi munkar as they are worship of Allah...making dunya good with knowledge and kindly activities |
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, on 08-03-2009 14:34 I bring greeting to all of you with Assalaamwakekum warehmatullah hi wa barakatuhu (peace mercy and blessing's be on all of you, I request all Broters & Sisters around the world to watch "PEACE TV" that is been telecast through out the world.It is realy worth, you learn about Islam and you get knowledge of all the other religion's and we can realize the Furqan / Quran is the only Allah (swt's) word, specially we should read Quran with understanding/meaning jazakALLAH. |
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, on 07-03-2009 16:35 Dear Sister, Your article was inspiring and certainly summed up many aspects of why women are so important in Islam and the high ranking which they have. Some people may read this article and be skeptical about your comments as a result of what is shown on TV and in the other forms of media.I urge them to delve further into Islam (the Quran & Hadith etc) and to find these answers for themselves too inshAllah...so they have peace of mind. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It is only with the knowledge of the truth that we can eradicate the stereotypes and extreme views which individuals have of Islam. All the best to you inshAllah. |
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, on 05-03-2009 09:09 Dear brother and sisters sister has practiced alhamdulillah very great job and he is working for truth .This the requirement in our sisters to search the truth using thier capabilties and power not moving back to the wetern women.This period is the chance for intellectual person for dawah.This life has has end and new life is about to start.So let us prepare for new life and try avoid wrong things (nudity,zina,rape,breaking the rights,leaving honesty,) and keeping the right things and actions (easy marriage,innocency,honesty,holiness,paying rights). Sister Ridley is my dream sister and if it is not possible in life to meet i will meet in jannah inshallah. |
| 20. Written by MeMyselfAndI, on 03-03-2009 07:27 The last part of this article, unfortunately, stereotypes NON-Muslim women. We do not all enhance our breasts, etc. etc. etc. I admire your defence of Islam, and have lived many years in the Islamic Arab world. But I have also met radicals like you, holier than thou British (oddly enough) 'reverts' and I find you about as annoying as the radical religious authorities I have encountered in various places. There's a place for the voice of everyone, so I celebrate and honour that even in what you say. But yours is not the gospel truth about Islam. Even moderate Muslims do not agree with everything you say, verbatim. The defence of women in Islam is a strange issue. You do a good job of it. But my dialogues with many Muslim women friends have shown that most of the time, the contradictions in the Qu'ran cannot be explained. Or they won't dare say what is really the case: there ARE contradictions and problems with the holy book. No. This would be blaspheming against the Quran and Islam and Allah. People like you were never the reason I was drawn to Islam. It is the quiet examples set by my faithful companions, and that...is what caused me to 'embrace' (not revert to) Islam. And now I expect that I'll receive an onslaught of the ugliest side of this community: non-acceptance for my difference of opinion. Predictable. Dissenting voices. Not welcome. |
| 21. Written by khawer, on 02-03-2009 17:20 Asalaam O Alaikum Dear Sister You are a blessed one. Congrats :) 3:110 You are the best community ever raised among the people: you advocate righteousness and forbid evil, and you believe in GOD. If the followers of the scripture believed, it would be better for them. Some of them do believe, but the majority of them are wicked. Best Prays & Regards :) |
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, on 20-02-2009 05:24 Aasalamualaikum sista Alhamdulillah by allah's grace you got hidaya and islam required such a people like you but alhamdulillah many of our muslims have power and they dont get up and for everything required ALLAH's help.. WOH SHAMMA KYA BUJE JISE ROSHAN KHUDA KARE, We pray for you jazak allah huma khairan ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) syed |
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, on 16-02-2009 23:15 Assalamualaikum My dear Sister, Masyallah for a wonderful story and good work you have done for Muslims and Islam. May Allah swt give you sawab or good deeds for everything you have done. May Allah swt protect you always and keep you in his blessing. May your long journey with the others in Viva Palestina safe and successful. Remember you have brother and sister in Vienna, Austria and you are welcome to our home anytime. Salam. |
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, on 16-02-2009 18:41 I\'d like to address the comment made about men being \'a degree above\' women in Islam - yes it refers to men being above women, but it actually means physically. and due to this physical strength men are generally expected to do the jobs that require this strength - manual labour, protection, etc. Yes men and women do have different roles, after all being a man cannot allow you to do a woman\'s job. This does not detract from the equality of the sexes. We are ALL equal in the sight of Allah except in matters of Taqwah (hadith) If we were not equal then would the rewards not be different for Muslim men and women? Would it not be said quite clearly that women are below men in terms of inferiority very clearly? and would the manner in which the Sahabiyah (RA) were treated not reflect this? As for female generals - Bilkis was the Queen of Sheba, and a pretty intelligent one at that. Women can and do excel in all areas of life, just as men do. There are various stories of Sahabiyah displaying great courage on the battlefield and applauded for it, both during the Prophet\'s (SAW) time and after. Just because a \'male egoistic view\' pushes women back in all areas doesn\'t make it a statement of truth or a fact of justice. Besides, im a woman and I can still take my brother down in a fight - am I \'stepping\' out of place? I don\'t think so... |
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, on 16-02-2009 03:32 Assalamualaikum, My name is khyairul (pronoun as kai-rul) writing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Alhamdulillah, God has showed you the mighty power of Islam (as THE way of life) and His mighty words in Al-Quran (al-karim) as well as Hadith and Sunnah from the His Messenger, Prophet Muhammad. Although you found it by chance during-after Taliban captivity. You as a writer, should write a lot more and get your articles publish in as many platform as possible, especially the international ones. I believe that writing has more power than anything else. Therefore, keep writing your amazing articles in correcting the misunderstanding of Islam. THere's no doubt that Islam will prevail in the end because it is written in the AL-Quran. |
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, on 15-02-2009 22:01 Asalam alaikum Congratulations on your academic,exciting and energetic ideas. I admire your courage, sincerity and inteligence. Islam as a religion and muslims around the world looking at you as an asset and as a leader in fighting oppression and miguided ideas about islam. May Allah s.w. protect you and increase your iman. Yvonne, we salute you. |
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, on 05-02-2009 00:33 null Wow. Mashallah this article is really great & it puts things into context which i actually find hard to explain to people or argue my case about. To the person, who said that "men are a degree over women"..this is degree/percentage is so short that it's not a percentage. Men are physically stronger than most women, but this percentage of importance is not a percentage which you can argue about. Therefore women are just as important as men really, just that men being the bread winners in most cases can boost up der egos just that i'd put that in Thank You |
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, on 31-01-2009 10:26 MashAllah, A very interesting read, I've been nodding the whole way through it! Going to post this on my facebook profile to bring to the attention of other Muslims and non-Muslims! Looking forward to seeing you at Lancaster uni in Islam Awareness week InshAllah! :) |
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, on 27-01-2009 16:56 Superbly written! |
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, on 22-01-2009 15:14 to Dominic Lennon: Dear Mr! No need to show your ignorance by making statements about the subject you hardly know. For sure watching too much CNN type of channels blocks one's mind. First please you do some studies and reserch from correct reliable sources, then do ur judgement. Yvonne is talking about what Islam gives to woman as per Divine command in Quran, which I bet you didnt read. By religion women indeed are given many rights, but often they are deprived of them by men, society, culture and so on but not by God. God is always just, but ppl often don't obey His justice and manupulate the things as per their own desires. And as a result you will see Saudi Arabia, Afganistan...what they do overthere just damages the name of Islam, helping rather anti-islamic propaganda. Hope you understand. |
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, on 22-01-2009 14:45 Dear Sister, I read your article and all comments to it. I am also a convert to Islam, so your thoughts are so close to my mind and soul, very inspiring for muslim people, but not so convincing for others as comments show. For example, comment posted by Frankie, quote: \"Now, my dear Yvonne, you can make your claims about Islam being peaceful and respectful, but you can\'t argue with the numbers. It is either that your interpretation of Islam is plain wrong, or, in the case you are right, Islam has miserably failed to create better societies. \" When I was in process of converting to Islam I asked a lot of questions, read many related books and had a long arguments, to me Islam didnt come overnight after reading Quran, I accepted it by my heart and mind after I was convienced by logic that all my questions were answered with. So the question Frankie has asked was one of those I asked too. Islam didnt fail, and will never fail, but humankind has failed to follow it as it was asked to. Let me give you an example. Person goes to the store and buys a high tech home appliance. Detailed manual is given with it, teaching him what to do what not to do and how to do. But he doesnt follow, thinking, come on who needs it, I already know what I should do. Eventually he does things wrong, appliance breaks down or he gets injured. Now tell me, is it the fault of the manual? Same with Islam, and other religions. God gave people a manual to follow, that was his responcibility as a Creator, but to follow the manual correctly is people\'s responcibility and they will be judged on that. But humanity keeps on challenging God by creating their own manuals, thinking they can do better, that may be works sometimes for a short term, but in a long term they fail, and current situation in the world is the best prove to it. |
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, on 21-01-2009 13:34 Assalam, Thanks for sister Yvonne to openly discuss this very sensitive topic. As a pro-feminist Muslim myself try to tell the other brothers I know how they misunderstood the womyn's place in Islam. I see many brothers following the same trend of Western patriarchy without even realising they are crossing the Quranic border of how to treat womyn. They put womyn in stereotypes and whinge about their wives, their daughters or worse stranger womyn...actually particularly the stranger womyn. Yet, they fail to see that the womyn that they whinge about look after them, feed them, do everything around the house like a slave, raise their children etc. It is truly appaling and sad. I believe it is the ignorance that causes this mostly and of course as you put it, the culture. And they are also very much involved in womyn's 'wardrobe' as you put. As if the 'sexual trends' of this capitalist world is determined by womyn...they are blind enough not to see patriarchic conspiricy. The controlling men giving whatever image that womyn has today. Undermining their very intelligence and characters. Though, I can say that Muslim womyn (for they are left ignorant) also contribute and almost allow this to happen by staying silent. I hope your efforts will cause some sort of movement within Islamic sisterhood. There is ofcourse another reason for this debate to go on. It is to feed the Islamic world with extreme trivial issues, keep them busy, keep them occupied so we may be destroyed by certain powers by certain schemes. ----------------- And finally to the people who copy pasted articles about the driver womyn in Arabia etc. I think you guys need to learn to read ..or hey perhaps truly read what Yvonne wrote before attempting something as silly as that (I am not going to explain why what you did is so silly for it is in the article already). Vassalam, Peace be upon humanity |
| 33. Written by Mike, on 20-01-2009 08:24 I read your article "The Beginning of the End for Israel", and I have only one thing to say: you are a brainwashed lunatic. I have sympathy for the Palestinians and I do believe that they should live in peace with the Israelis under one democratic government, but then there are the fucking idiots like you and the terrorists with the rockets ruining it for everyone else. shameful. truth be told, it's because of people like you that this war will go on forever. you have no sense of empathy. you have no sense of logic or reason. you are nothing more than a pale reflection of everything you despise. if there is a god, I guarantee you that his idea of the right path in life is not to strike down your brother, or to write biased, hate-filled, almost joyful articles about terrible wars. so for this reason: fuck your little veil, and fuck your twisted sense of right and wrong. you, and people like you, are close-minded, stubborn monsters. the worst humanity has to offer. One day, the cold, black abyss of death grabs you and you see the true face of the eternal...and then watch it slip away. I will not offer my sympathy, just as you have not offered yours to anyone that does not believe in what YOU believe in. Burn in hell. |
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, on 14-01-2009 00:38 Salam alaiki.. Im so impressed with your words! Alhamdulillah, Thanks Allah for giving you His Hidayah. Even some people give the opinion against you, they are just not a person who selected by Allah to be in the right path. Keep up the great job. Luv u sis.. Jazakillah, Shida, Glasgow UK |
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, on 08-01-2009 21:21 SubhanAllah SubhanAllah SubhanAllah Alhamdo Lillah Allaho Akbar Allaho Akbar I am so proud of you sister, may you live long. May you be always in peace and prosperity. May you succeed in both here and hereafter. Amen Your preaching of islam, your fight for Aafia Siddiqui, and your love for Islam. You are great sister, JazakAllah. JazakAllah. |
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, on 03-01-2009 18:34 assalamu-alaikum we are so happy and glad to know that u return to ur natural religion i.e islam |
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, on 03-01-2009 05:36 Asalamu Alaikum Sister Thank you so much for your insightful and well put article. As an American woman I can presonally attest to the fact that abuse of wives is rampant in the US. Not only that the system fails to protect woman. Prior to converting to Islam I divorced my first husband (Christian)due to abuse and a restraining order was put out. He showed up at my home and tried to choak me to death, putting huge bruses all over where he hit and grabbed to keep me from escapeing. Alhumdulillah, I was able to break free and call the police and he fled. But the police refused to go after him or even stick around for a while in case he returned. When a month later he was picked up for a different charge they brought up the Attempted murder but he was allowed to plead down to Attempted corporal injury to a spouse. You guessed it. They have a special charge for trying to murder a wife or ex-wife. He never served a day in jail. Technicly he "served weekends". What this means is he did community service at a park for a few weeks. Leaving him free to attempt to murder another woman less than a year later. The US has no right to talk about woman being opressed until they can get their own act together and protect their own woman. Less than a year later the same police department was in deep problems because they failed to show up when a woman reported that her ex who she also had a restraining order against was stalking her. He shot her(Alhumdulillah she lived) that same night. Alhumdulillah, All that I went to eventually brought me Islam, so I am thankful for all the experiences. And I later met and married my Beloved husband. Who would never opress me or push anything on me that I did not feel that Allah(SWT) had inspired me to do. I always laugh when people say "does your husband make you wear that thing". He was even more suprised than you when I announced I was going to wear it. I love the way you put things thank you for supporting your sisters. Aisha (formerly Kristine) |
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, on 01-01-2009 15:03 ASLAM ALAYKUM dear brothers and sister... maybe i have mis-understood the article or whatever but in no way do i mean to undermine what sister Yvonne has said. i respect her and totally admire and love her for the sake of islam.... HOWEVER : Allah SwT clearly states in the quran : (interpretation of the meaning) ''men are a degree over women '' AllAH SWT has made men as the carers, protectors, bread-winners for the woman. nowhere in the whole quran would you ever find the quran talking of 'equality' in any way regarding men and women. islam talks about justice and justice it is that liberates people. Where do u ever see equality? am i equal to my teacher? am i equal to my leader? am i equal to my FATHER?? am i equal to my servant?? if so, then why dont i do his work and he can do mine??? i mean, we are equal right?? you think a leader would accept someone else to take his chair whenever one pleases? no one is equal in this world.... we all have our own categories. islam has made man the protector of woman and inshallah she will be given full justice in that field of hers... if we men were so equal to women then why dont we one woman who is chief of army staff in any country??? women have their own fields and so do men... |
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, on 31-12-2008 17:41 Salam sister, Very good work Mashalla & true too :) loved it Banan |
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, on 15-12-2008 20:54 Dear Sister, You have proved to be a brave and righteous women by first accepting the divine truth of Allah by abandoning your previous concepts of life. Your attempt to show the world the truth about women in Islam is also admirable. |
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, on 10-12-2008 18:31 Yes, this article does deserve a place in a magazine, however i doubt any magazine in the UK or US would consider printing it as it may spread the notion that muslims are actually people and deserve to be treated decently instead of being killed in 'collateral damage' or, even worse, encourage people to ask the dangerous question of why our troops are in the middle east in the first place (hint: ISRAEL). I think what you're doing is highly commendable Yvonne. God bless you for having the strength to convert to Islam because strength is what it takes not, as according to popular western belief, weakness. It has baffled me for some time now that many British and Americans openly criticize Islam but have never actually read a Quran so only know what they are fed about Islam by the media. To those who have left comments arguing that women are oppressed in Islam; Yvonne has already stated that this is due to culture NOT religion. Furthermore, literally thousands of iraqi and afghani women have testified to being raped by US soldiers, is this liberation then?! One pointer though which Yvonne may wish to consider, throughout this article you refer to The Creator as Allah, perhaps it would be more useful to use the word God whilst addressing English speaking audiences, after all God is just another name for Allah, while Allah is just another name for God, and the word Allah is often used by journalists or other writers who wish to further alienate the religion of Islam for political means by making it seem as though Muslims worship a foreign God. Using the word God would, as far as i know, be halal (God is Allah, Allah is God) and also encourage convergence between readers and the subject i.e. islam. Anyway, keep up the good work and may god bless you! |
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, on 04-12-2008 01:15 Dear Yvonne,very good views and so true and to the person who obviously didn\'t read the article carefully and still wants to do research on domestic violence on women in other third world countries where never mind education,a glass of water is difficult to find maybe a re-read would be a good idea to find that Islam is Not the cause of domestic violence.If that was so we wouldn\'t have lots of refuge homes for British non-islamic women then would we?( P.S.coming from someone who knows a thing or two about such refuges and their inside cases!) |
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, on 26-11-2008 17:28 For the people above talking about abuse and violence upon woman, it is NOT Islam. As explained in the article it is the man.. it is not based on his religion or his culture. " Some might say that is a shocking indictment on such a civilized society, but before I sound too smug, I would say that violence against women is a global issue. Violent men do not come in any particular religious or cultural category. The reality is that one out of three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Violence against women transcends religion, wealth, class, skin color and culture." It is stated there, also, before you look at the numbers of one nation look at the numbers worldwide. Thanks. |
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, on 26-11-2008 14:27 Algamdulillah, I was fortunate to see a DVD on one of your lectures. That is how I learnt about you. I am happy for you coming into the fold of Islam, the only true way of life recognised by the Almighty. Keep on with the good work. I am from Cape Town, South Africa, and what is the possibility of coming to our shores to share your experiences with us? Salaam and all the strength to you, Insha-Allah.undefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedQuote: undefined This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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, on 26-11-2008 08:02 Dear Sister, Excellent article. The point about men being more concerned about the physical appearance of a woman rather than the inner beauty is so right. Plus, I really admire the way you have distinguished the fact from conception. Keep it up. |
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, on 22-11-2008 20:16 salam alaikum.... you're awesome... inspiring.. full of energy mashallah.. keep up the great work! I was exhilarated when I first read about your conversion story... it was a truly amazing feeling... |
| 47. Written by abdullah, on 22-11-2008 20:04 salam alaikum.... you're awesome... inspiring.. full of energy mashallah.. keep up the great work! I was exhilarated when I first read about your conversion story... it was amazing... |
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, on 21-11-2008 15:51 assalamwalekum sister the work you are doing is the biggest work which was given by ALLAH (swt) to all the prophets and our beloved prophet MOHAMMED (pbuh) when at his last sermon said to all human being to spread the word of ALLAH and to follow the path of MOHAMMED (pbuh) that is sunnah ALLAH bless you sister and increase your level in JANNAH inshaallah ameeeeeeeen |
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, on 21-11-2008 15:39 I pray to Allah that Allah (swt) gives his hidaya to each and every human being on this earth as Allah bestowed his blessings on you sister, i thoroughly believe in Allah's hidaya. you are the best example of Allah's hidaya. we have one more new revert her name is arlene and her email id is This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it please pray for her. Allah is always with you sis |
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, on 17-11-2008 19:24 To: Frankie Now let's take a glance at some really interesting statistics, hmm. I can almost hear the words pot, kettle, black. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, four million American women experience a serious assault by a partner during an average 12-month period. On the average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands and boyfriends every day . . . that is nearly 5,500 women battered to death since 9/11. Some might say that is a shocking indictment on such a civilized society, but before I sound too smug, I would say that violence against women is a global issue. Violent men do not come in any particular religious or cultural category. The reality is that one out of three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Violence against women transcends religion, wealth, class, skin color and culture. Note: Clearly you didn't read Yvonne's statement thoroughly..Violence against women practically happens despite religion,race or culture.. Does that mean that embracing other religion would somehow restrain a husband from beating his wife??? |
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, on 10-11-2008 12:40 May ALLAH SWT give you all the guidance, help, wisdom,courage and power. Ameen. ALLAH SWT Bless you my sister. |
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, on 10-11-2008 12:40 May ALLAH SWT give you all the guidance, help, wisdom,courage and power. Ameen. ALLAH SWT Bless you my sister. |
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, on 02-11-2008 10:33 Salam alaykum, dear Yvonne, i have one word to describe any sister who choose to wear a hijab or niqab (as worn by many too).. simply WONDERFUL!! i pray that Allah will always protect u, dear sister and gives u the strength to continue showing us how wonderful it is, as u are, a role model to many of our sisters.. and brothers too, of course. |
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, on 01-11-2008 13:43 From the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights ( http://ecwronline.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=english ): Sexual harassment in Egypt is experienced by 98% of foreign women visitors and 83% of Egyptian women. Also 62% of Egyptian men admitted harassing women. From the Amnesty International website: According to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, over 90% of married women report being kicked, slapped, beaten or sexually abused when husbands were dissatisfied by their cooking or cleaning, or when the women had 'failed' to bear a child or had given birth to a girl instead of a boy. Shall we do some research about Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan...? Now, my dear Yvonne, you can make your claims about Islam being peaceful and respectful, but you can't argue with the numbers. It is either that your interpretation of Islam is plain wrong, or, in the case you are right, Islam has miserably failed to create better societies. Egypt has been an Arabic-Islamic nation for many centuries and look at the numbers. Islam? No, thanks |
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, on 01-11-2008 06:49 Assalam-o-Alaikum, I have the same views as you do sister Yvonne, but the lady above Jennifer also commented some thing which cannot be ignored. Wonderful article anyway. Fi Aman Allah. |
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, on 31-10-2008 08:36 Dear Sister Maryam (Yvonne Ridley) Aslam aleikum and May Allah enlight your heart, mind and soule more and more in the days and nights. I heared you with all my attention on WAQT TV channel on 28/10/2009, I heard about you but first time I have seen you live speaking on TV channel. It has been gone into my heart when you answerd a question of a Pakistani Dr. Qutab about Hijab. I am really impressed the way you answered and the way you defend this practice. I have advised my doughters to hear you more to get \"HIDAYA\" and to learn how to live as a nice Muslim woman. You are so graceful woman of Islam, me and my entire family pray for you to stay healthy and prosper. With all our love and regards, |
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, on 30-10-2008 10:04 It is time Poem by Lesta Bertoia It must be time why else are we so driven to reveal what we've been shown it's because there's more to all of this than time alone has shown time mirrored into doubles and quadrupled into go time swirling and unfurling like a vortex in the flow time ripping through the veils of separation from our fates time merging worlds and promised lands and kingdoms with their mates the body of my knowledge bursts the body of my flesh but time, relentless, hears the cry, the hungry human wish time, seeking its own timelessness speaks visions through our lips and tells us we are time's endeared and long-awaited ships |
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, on 29-10-2008 06:08 Assalalmu alaikum WRB........ Dear Sister, We are all proud of you to have a sister like you in our Deen. Masha Allah, you are doing a wonderful job. May I make a humble request to you to use your effective journalism in spreading the TRUTH about Islam and removing the misconception among the people of this lovely world. May Allah SWT bless you with more courage and energy- Aameen. Your brother in Islam Ajmal |
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, on 23-10-2008 21:33 Thanks for so good artical. Thanks alot. |
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, on 23-10-2008 11:01 Slm, U hav written openly, honestly and very emotionally. while many muslims may feel ur thoughts , there are many others who will choose to respond to them with words of logical criticism. it is with this in mind that i think that praising one religion should not critisize another ones beliefs. acts of islam have and always will speak louder than any political verbal documentaries meant to incite people againgst each other. the words u have written are true and sincere - but perhaps only those with hearts shall ever truly understand. i pray to allah that we all be granted that understanding. keep up the heartfelt work yvonne. |
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, on 21-10-2008 04:39 Hello/Salam; Its what you think sister, its really good for you, and for all the Muslim females. Islam is the ultimate reality, it will prosper ultimately. But your article depicts many things which show impact of culture of veil and women slavery more then Islamic Hijaab Phenomena. |
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, on 20-10-2008 10:19 I am really touched by this article. It is really very good to know that by understanding Quran, people can overcome the misconceptions regarding Islam. In my option Islam is a religion providing a perfect road map for every human being to follow. If understood properly it makes us recognize the truths, moral values that one needs to adopt in order to build a ideal and honourable society to live in. I am proud of my religion and hope that one day all the propaganda and disillusions related to Islam will end. May Allah bless you for writing such a bold and commendable article. |
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, on 16-10-2008 22:12 selam alejkum to all muslim brothers and sisters. i was born as a muslim thank god so i didnīt have to find the way to islam. but unfortunatelly because i was born in germany and live here all my life i was as many brothers and sisters torn in between the norms of islam and the norms of the western country i live. thank god, that i get more and more religious and consciouss about the truth, the beauty, the islam since ramadan 2007 and much more since ramadan 2008. may great god help us all and guide us the right way as he did with sister ivonne. we need more women, muslim sisters like her to talk about the status of a woman in islam because a lot of people donīt know. this will encourage sisters all over the world to live the right islam way and to follow the rules. AND ITS BEAUTIFUL, so donīt loose time sisters and brothers all over the world and be strong enough to live as a muslim even if you live in the western world. allah is the merciest and the gratest and he loves those who follow his way, so he will help a lot inshallah! may great god forgive us our sins, guide us the right way and encourage us,make as aware and strong to live as muslims. AMIN almasa |
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, on 15-10-2008 01:54 Salam Alakium,, all i can say or do is to pray for you may Allah give you more power and knowledge. i would like to request you if you can write more about Hijab in islam in the light of Quran and Hadis. thanks best regard naveed ahmad |
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, on 09-10-2008 22:41 Such is the manifest ignorance and denial on display here that i can only conclude that the Taliban must have substituted "sister" Ridley's brain with a peanut during her stay. Does she seriously believe that women have fewer rights in Judaeo-Christian evolved secular liberal democracies than in Islamic societies? The Koran MANDATES inferior status for women, whether that be in how they can dress, how many partners they can have, what rights they get from inheritance or indeed, in what circumstances a human being can assault another one. You people are either stupid or simply culturally blinkered. You don't so much need argument as therapy. |
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, on 06-10-2008 19:06 Assalam Alaikum Sister , Excellent.It was an emotional mail to read and on the contrary a big motivation to womens living in western culture.May Allah (SWT) guide all of our brothers to implement hijab to their wives n daughters as they will be asked on the day of judgement. \"Narrated by Aisha,Ummul Mu\'minin : The Prophet (pbuh) said : Allah does not accept the prayer of a women who has reached puberty unless she wears a veil (Hijab)\"(Abu Dawood ,Book 2,Hadith 0641) |
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, on 30-09-2008 14:41 It sure sounds like women are treated as equals under Islam. See article below - http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080930110903.vsdt9lry&show_article=1 Saudi woman driver hurt after defying ban Sep 30 07:09 AM US/Eastern A young woman in Saudi Arabia who defied ultra-conservative kingdom\'s ban on women driving was injured when the car span out of control and plunged into a stream, a newspaper reported on Tuesday. The unnamed woman in her 20s \"stole\" her brother\'s car on Sunday, picked up a female friend and drove at high speed through a town in the Eastern Province before losing control of the vehicle, Al-Riyadh said. The car hit an electricity pole and plunged into an irrigation channel. Both the driver and her friend were taken to hospital in serious condition, the paper said. There have been several incidents reported in recent years of women being killed in accidents when they were driving in defiance of the ban -- which is just one of a host of restrictions imposed on women in Saudi Arabia. Women\'s rights campaigners have petitioned King Abdullah twice in the past year urging him to lift the ban. Women in the Muslim Gulf kingdom are legally obliged to cover up from head to toe in public, and cannot travel without written permission from a male guardian. |
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, on 29-09-2008 16:30 This does not change the fact that your original captivity was wrong. Further, don't honor killings and murders by Islamic terrorists have any basis in the Koran, or are these mere aberrations? |
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, on 28-09-2008 10:47 May Allah gives all the rewards for your good deeds Yvonne, :) and wearing a hijab, u are certainly an excellent role model ..especially for our sisters everywhere. |
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, on 26-09-2008 22:48 Assalamualaikum warahamtullahi wabarakatuh... Allah bless u... |
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, on 26-09-2008 06:03 Assalammualaikum ... May Allah bless u... Allahhu Akbar!!... |
| 72. Written by Humaira, on 25-09-2008 21:34 Excellent talk alhamdulillah. May Allah reward you for all your efforts. Just heard about you few days ago. Unfortunately i did\'nt know you attended summer conference (corporation park, blackburn) or else i would have surely attended. |
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, on 25-09-2008 20:34 Assalam o alaikum, i just read this aritle and i just cried. i just read another article on BBC about a journalist who was detained in prison in Afghanistan by Americans. And i read a news about two women. Mariam Evone Reidley and Aafia Siddiqui. Two women and and how they were treated. I would like to carry these articles for my website http://www.yarehman.com . |
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, on 24-09-2008 17:09 I saw the same mistake of all people, who came to Islam: they compare the image of a beautiful ideal with failings of other societies. Compare ideals with ideals and failings with failings. And you would find, that behind the backdrop of the "beautiful Islam", there is the same shit as anywhere. They are all humans. Unconvincing for journalists, who use their brain. |
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, on 24-09-2008 04:21 If its a matter of judging a person by their mind, intelligence, good deeds to others, why can't the people get along no matter what they choose to wear. If I choose to wear X why do I have to condemn the one who wears Y. Let the people wear what they feel comfortable and secure in...so that they can concentrate on more important issues in this world. |
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, on 22-09-2008 10:13 Gr8 Lady i realy inspired God bless you. |
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, on 17-09-2008 04:39 You earned my Standing Ovation. I am going to save this article in my computer and any fool that starts nagging with me about woman's rights in Islam will get it. I wont have to explain any further. Thanks awfully for a very well written article. Was this posted in any news paper? |
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, on 13-09-2008 04:44 AssalmuAlaikum, Dear sister, it waz realy an eye opening article for all of us and especially the women of west or those who wish to follow the west blindly...i pray for ur pen to be the sowrd of muslim mujahida...Ameed |
| 79. Written by Cookies, on 13-09-2008 00:39 Wow... this is a beautiful article!! |
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, on 12-09-2008 22:57 There are so many unguided people such Jennifer that their views are tained black. Jennifer would not know truth if it came to her as a gospel. However, we must hope that maybe she wil also understand the vauable work Yvonne Ridley is doing day in day out Ammen. Jennifer THINK about ISLAM by reading what this important religeon means a guidance for the whole of humanity and maybe you can save your soul. |
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, on 07-09-2008 04:05 Aslamu Alikum. may Allah bless you.ameen. We are proud of such sisters who show dignity of women in islam.May Allah make every sister like Maryyam with strong faith. ameen |
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, on 02-09-2008 03:35 Respectable Sister Ridley Assalam-o-Alaikum I am a born Muslim. I had just heard about you in the newspapers and it is the first time I have read your article. I am really impressed by your article as I feel more energetic today as your article served as a spiritual supplement. May Allah bless you Ameen. Please write something to counter blame on muslims as being extremists or terrorists. Jazakallah. |
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, on 23-08-2008 12:00 Salam Sister Yvonne, As a young Muslimah in the US, I have to say this article echoed my feelings to the tee, and I'm sure it could speak for most, if not all, sisters. Your points were beautifully and logically made, and I think even brainwashed Westerners would have a hard time finding a rebuttal to your excellent, truthful article. mashAllah, keep up the good work. May Allah(swt) guide us all. Ameen. Just one thing to consider, why do so many Westerners seem to have an issue with modesty? I'd really like to hear the answer. |
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, on 11-08-2008 17:35 a great article indeed but I must say, politics is not the place for women......... |
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, on 07-08-2008 10:00 Dear sister! i have no wards to express my words. simply i really get togather my belief on Allah who how can make things happen for the batterment of his real religion. Having lack of resources and means few days ago i got you book for study and in one go i got through it, realy in my life i have never seen such a beautifull book and writing axcept Quran pak. Dear sister i wish you best of luck and may Allah pak blass you. millions of brother are standing shoulder to shoulder besides you. |
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, on 05-08-2008 17:36 Assalam-o-Alaikum, Sister a very good article. I would like to share something about the feelings of Muslim Men Amongst Muslim men we do occasionally joke that in Islam actually we are the oppressed ones! Daily we have to work like horses and withstand the tantrums of our bosses and then come home and withstand the tantrums of our wives :) Last year when I was having some difficulty making ends meet, I asked my wive to do a part-time job for just one year so that we can become stable. But she refused 'flatly' saying that she would rather 'chill' at home! And there was nothing I can do to force her contrary to the more popular view! But she did say that she would help me out by controlling the expenses at our home. And I would say that she did a fairly good job! From dustbins to beds, she made from her own hands, with stuff that we would have normally thrown out. Now, Alhamdolillah, we are much more stable. So men and women are equal but have specific pre-defined roles. And if one sticks to his/her role, then life does become happy and peaceful. And Allah knows best |
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, on 05-08-2008 14:22 Inspiring, very inspiring. |
| 88. Written by Hailey, on 14-07-2008 04:20 Jennifer: ...What the heck are you talking about? She addressed the issue that in some Muslim countries women are treated badly: "And I am sick of Saudi Arabia being cited as an example of how women are subjigated in a country where they are banned from driving. The issues above have simply nothing to do with Islam yet they still write and talk about them with an arrogant air of authority while wrongly blaming Islam. Please do not confuse cultural behavior with Islam." That's hardly "covering that up" Islam is a religion, not a country, and you can't expect a country to always legislate in accordance to its religion. Also, her article discusses why she loves the veil. Why should she have to address the bad treatment of women in some Islamic countries when she's talking about the veil. That's like getting mad at a commercial for Mcdonalds for not telling customers that a lot of people starve to death every day because they can't get some mcnuggets. It's ridiculous for you to expect Ms. Ridley to HAVE to talk about that. But like I said, she DID talk about it, so you should have nothing to complain about. Also, your statistic that at least half of Muslim women aren't allowed to get an education and don't get their due inheritance is not even close to true. You don't do a service to us by exagerating so greatly. I'm pretty sure practically ALL Muslim women get their due inheritance, as I've never heard a Muslim woman complain about not receiving her dues, and very few Muslim women aren't allowed to get an education, and that's because people, not Islam, are stopping them. Furthermore, she stated no "ideals." She simply talked about what the ruling were in Islam for women concerning inheritance, money, and education. She never said they were fully enforced in so-called Islamic countries. My advice to you is to read what you're criticizing thouroughly before you say something so amazingly ridiculous and so obviously false. And what are YOU doing to make the rights of women in Islam a reality? Are you hoping Ms. Ridley will take care of it? It's the responsibility of every women and man to make sure ALL humans are treated well. |
| 89. Written by
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, on 28-04-2008 20:15 How do you propose to take the ideal situation of Islam (right to education, etc) and make it a reality? Because the ideals you speak of are not the reality for at least half of all Muslim women in the world. You don't do a service to us by covering that up, or refusing to deal with it as an issue. |
| 90. Written by
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, on 28-04-2008 19:15 jazakallahu khairan sister Yvonne, this article deserves a place in every magazine every news paper on this earth. dumb journalists and politicians, are you listening? |
| 91. Written by Fahad, on 26-03-2008 14:18 Assalam o alaikum. Well written and inspiring. Couldn\'t stop once I had started reading it. A lot of muslims should read this to get out of their inferiority complex imposed upon them by the media stating that women are oppressed in Islam. May Allah give you the ability to write further. |
| 92. Written by Muslima, on 26-02-2008 13:09 Dear Sister in Islam, I salute you for your brave comments,and you are speaking for a lot of Muslim sisters out there,including myself ,who are proud of their religion and of their veil .May Allah reward you for this |
| 93. Written by
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, on 01-01-2008 08:10 Dear Sister, You are a source of a great enlightenment and wisdom and another great daughter born to Islam. May Allah (SWT) always bless and protect you. (AMEEN) |
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