De-Hijabization

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1237706119307&pagename=Zone-English-Family%2FFYELayout

The article is quite readable, and seemed to explain the phenomenon and its importance from a dis-engaged point of view... until I read this part and it was all downhill from there.  This statement came after explaining the role of certain preachers who made hijab tantamount to faith itself:

"Women who remove the headscarf because they choose to interpret the Islamic tradition in their own way without training; are just as problematic as these preachers"

This got me thinking.

Firstly, we all interpret the Islamic tradition in our own way, and none of us have been 'trained' to do so.  I challenge the assertion that a bloke with a degree in Shariah is in a better position to interpret Islam for me than I am.  I'm not saying I don't respect the knowledge that person has attained, nor am I saying that I wouldn't take that person's view into account whilst making my decision.  But, ultimately, it is my decision.  Scholars advise, and it's up to the 'lay people' to take that advise into consideration, but not follow it blindly.  I advise you to take this piece of advise into consideration, but not follow it blindly.

I'm not talking about training in Shariah, and I'm not challenging the assertion that hijab is 'fard', according to classical Sunni schools of thought.  The classification of 'fard' is a fiqh classification, based on the sources mentioned in the article.  However, we would be in a mild state of denial if we were to assume that the only reason one wears the hijab is because of this fiqh classification, just as we would be in denial to remove its importance from the equation.  But here's my challenge for you. Perhaps it's not a matter of what 'fiqh' says about the situation - perhaps its a matter of how much importance we attatch to which rules of fiqh.

Of course, I hear you think, we want to follow all the rules of fiqh, so we don't sin and can go to Heaven.  Well, I'm sorry to break it to you - one can follow all the rules of fiqh, and still be an immoral person, and if God wills, end up in Hell (authu billah min thalik).  Confused? If so, let me tell you a quick story.

An Arab bloke is married to a pious lady, and fancies his secretary.  He gets off with his secretary behind his wife's back, and does a nikkah with her to relieve his guilt, leaving the secretary with the impression he will leave his first wife. Did he break a rule of fiqh? No. Did he commit an immoral act and sin? Yes.  For those of you who believed that marrying a second wife without the first's permission was haram, I'm sorry to break the news to you.

Some women who choose wear hijab are happy because they are interpreting Islam in a way which falls in line with the rules of classical fiqh, and depending on their context may improve/remove their social status.  Women who choose not to wear hijab are happy because they are paying more importance to aspects of their faith that are not stamped on their forehead (which may improve/remove their social status).  Women who don't have a choice aren't happy, because a member of their family took that freedom away from them.

The irony of the article is that the lady who wrote it then goes on to explain (interpret) a verse of the Qur'an without any training (how dare she!) and then concludes that she will wear it due to her 'awareness' - an awareness that apparently the other Muslim women are lacking.

A Syllabus for Studying Islam from Scratch

This is a basic syllabus of what I believe every British Muslim should know about Islam.  It is a fairly logical progression starting with the assumption that the student is a believer, who knows virtually nothing of Islam and is willing to study for 1 hour every single day.  If you think you can’t do that, check out www.myliferesults.com and get coaching – your problem is more psychological and emotional than spiritual.

Phase 1: Knowing the Sources

Reading:

Read one of the following translations of the Qur’an:

o      Abdul Haleem

o      Thomas Cleary

(total 300 pages reading)

Read one of the following basic accounts of the life of the Prophet (saw):

o      Martin Lings

o      Hasan al-Banna’s Seerah

o      Tariq Ramadan

(total 200 pages reading)

Total time: 1 month

 

Phase 2: Learning the ability to read Arabic

·      Going through MELS phase 1

·      Using Audio recitations for a few minutes (10) each day, to improve recitation speed

·      Read 1 page several times each day (10 times) – link habit with habit

·      Schedule Weekly/Fort-nightly tele-tajweed sessions with a qualified teacher – check out this website... or call me for details. This arrangement will go on for the rest of the year, until you are confident in your ability to read fluently.

total time: 1 month

Phase 3: Learn to pray, and learn some Dua’s

·      IIDR Personal Development Plan – part 1: memorize basic verses of the Qur’an (from last 10 surahs), and learn to pray (and understand words of prayer).  Memorise from the original Arabic script – it will take slightly longer, but the rewards will be worth it as you move through the rest of the program.

·      Use Islam: Beliefs and Practices to learn movements of prayer

Total time: 2 months

Reasoning:

 You may think it’s wrong to read the Qur’an and Life of the Prophet, and learn to read Arabic before starting on prayer, but given that whole process will take 2 months, and you’ll hopefully be a Muslim for the rest of your life, it’s a wise choice.  If you die today, you’ll die on the path of seeking knowledge to worship God, which is a good place to be. (If you really want, you can make the intention to catch up the outstanding prayers in 2 years time, when prayer is a solid habit for you – or build praying Sunnah into your life-style to make up for it) – what you’ll gain from this method is a serious grounding that will massively improve the quality of your prayers for the rest of your life.

Also, your commitment to prayer will be a lot more serious when you know what the Qur’an says, and who the Prophet was.

Phase 4: Audio Material to understand the Sources in more depth

·      60 hour audio series covering all 30 sections (juz) of the Qur’an, with brief explanation/interpretation from Amina Elahi

o      Covers the entire Qur’an with slightly more detail than a straight translation, with often interesting cross-references of hadith explaining certain concepts.

·      Sirah of the Prophet Muhammad, taught by Anwar al-Awlaki (in 2 sections, Meccan and Medinan) totalling 30 hours; or Hamza Yusuf – under 30 hours.

Total time: 3 months

Phase 5: Deeper spritual commitment:

·      In the Early Hours

·      Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife

·      Purification of the Heart (Hamza Yusuf)

·      Spirituality in Islam (Hasan al-Banna)

·      Suhaib Webb audio series

Total time: 1 month

Phase 6: Understanding Islam in a Western Context

·      Western Muslims and the Future of Islam

·      Radical reform

·      To be a European Muslim

·      Muhammad – TR

Total time: 1 month

Phase 7 : Arabic

·      MELS Access to Qur’anic Arabic

·      Ibn Jabal Level 1

·      Hyderabad version

4 months – and you’ll be able to understand what the imam is saying during Tarawih – which is much more valuable, in my opinion than the details of the  fiqh of worship.

Phase 8: Fiqh of Worship and ‘Aqidha

·      This is a necessary part of knowledge that every Muslim should have – exactly how to wash, pray, fast, give charity, and do hajj

·      Learn each of them in order of when you’ll have to do them (ie. washing and prayer first).

·      Prayer Can be done in 1 month via Sunni Path online course, or using a book (eg. Zaytun Institute published a Hanafi fiqh text) and Fasting can be done in 1 day/weekend – IIDR courses.

·      You need to follow one of the 4 madhabs, or a qualified scholar (who may, if he is qualified, teach you a self-edited combination of 2 or more madhabs).  This is phase 8 for a reason: it’s less important than the other 7 phases, so don’t sweat it… unless you plan on becoming a Muslim scholar by profession.

Total Time: 1 month

Total Course time: 12-13 months – you can probably do it in a year.

NOTE:

I strongly recommend not getting too caught up in any one of the 8 phases, or any one of the teaching schools.  The courses I’m recommending here all the best of what each ‘school’/institute has to offer.  Eg. don’t get excited when you see the al-huda website, or the sunni-path website, and decide to do all their courses, disregarding the rest of the 8-phase program.  The systematic approach I’m outlining here will cover everything you need to know to get ‘started’ – after that follow your heart. 

Finally, if you don’t agree or don’t see the logic in something one of the course teachers says/ writes, don’t take it.  Challenge what you read. Be a critical thinker. I have purposely put some speakers on here who I no longer agree with on certain points, and some speakers who say sensible things in the programs I’ve suggested you follow, and now say not-so-sensible things about politics.  You have the right to disagree. Islam was never meant for sheep.