Growing up, you read me the Ugly Duckling. And for years I believed that was me. For so long you taught me I was nothing more than a bad copy of standard (men).
I couldn't run as faster lift as much. I didn't make the same money and I cried to often. I grew up in a man's world where I didn't belong.
And when I couldn't be him, I wanted to please him. I put on my make up and wore your short skirts. I gave in my life, my body, my dignity, for the cause of being pretty. I knew that no matter what I did, I was worthy only to the degree that I could please and be beautiful for my master. And so I spent my life on the cover of Cosmo and gave my body for you to sell.
I was a slave, but you taught me I was free. I was your object, but you swore it was success. You taught me that my purpose in life was to be on display, to attract, and be beautiful for men. You had me believe that my body was created to market your cars. And you raised me to think I was an ugly duckling. But you lied.
Islam tells me, I'm a swan. I'm different - it's meant to be that way. And my body, my soul, was created for something more.
God says in the Qur'an, "O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowingly and Acquainted." (Qur'an, 49:13)
So I am honored, but it is not by relationship to men. My value as a woman is not measured by the size of my waist or the number of men who like me. My worth as a human being is measured on higher scale: a scale of righteous and piety. And my purpose in life - despite on what the fashion magazines say - is something more sublime than just looking good for men. And so, God tells me to cover myself, to hide my beauty and to tell the world that I;m not here to please men with my body; I'm here to please God. God elevates the dignity of a woman's body by commanding that it be respected and covered, shown only to the deserving - only to the man I marry.
So to those who wish to 'liberate' me, I have only one thing to say: "Thanks, but no thanks."
I'm not here to be on display. and my body is not for public consumption. I will not be reduced to an object, or pair of legs to sell shoes. I'm a soul, a mind, a servant of God. My worth is defined by the beauty of my soul, my heart, my moral character. So, I won't worship your beauty standards, and I don't submit to your fashion sense. My submission is to something higher. With my veil I put my faith on display - rather than my beauty. My value as a human is defined by my relationship with God, not my looks. I cover the irrelevant. And when you look at me, you don't see a body. You view me only for what I am: a servant of my Creator.
You see, as a Muslim woman, I've been liberated from a silent kind of bondage. I don't answer to the slaves of God on earth. I answer to the King.
(Yasmin Mogahed's Reclaim Your Heart page 124 & 125)_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I just can't stop myself from writing word by word in order for you to read those beautiful letter wrote by Sister Yasmin Mogahed herself. Jazakillah sister, thank you. Those words bring such an inspiration and motivation to me, and perhaps to you too insha Allah. She wrote it beautifully to describe us, Muslim women. We should be proud knowing that Allah SWT created us in such an incredible creature. Alhamdulillah, all praises to Allah.
Shaheera
