Salaam alaikum
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem
Lately, because of the recent talk within the local community about Muslims and activism, I’ve been thinking a lot about sincerity. It’s the constant job of a believer to make sure that her intentions are correct. What am I doing or saying this for, the people or Allah? But recently, I had a run in with a commenter that revealed some new insights about sincerity.
A month ago, “Susan,” contacted me and asked me some questions about Islam, the oppression of Muslim women and terrorism. You know, the two usual subjects–religious violence and the subjugation of women. While the comment seemed angry and laced with some sarcasm, I decided to let it stay. I also left a comment receommending Thomas Cleary’s translation of the Qur’an plus links to various websites and organizations that are addressing the problems she listed.
She returned about month later, still not happy with her results. She mentioned the same issues and felt that the oppression of women can not be helped because men have all the power. She’s waiting for the Lord to fix it (her words, not mine). So today, I emailed her. A few weeks ago, I got the chance to meet an awesome Australian Muslim woman activist named Ayesha. She’s the principal of a school for Muslim girls (who’s staff is 1/3 non-Muslim, by the way) and she pursuing a doctorate degree. “Susan” also lives in Australia. So if they are willing and if time and distance are in sync, I thought they could meet. I emailed “Susan” and let her know that I would get Ayesha’s contact information and insha’Allah, she can work with Muslim women in resolving these issues.
Yes, I admit, I gambled. Part of me wanted to me if she would be excited to work with active, intelligent Muslim women or if this was just negative spam hanging in my comments box. After coming home from my tajweed classes, there was another comment and no response to my email (and as of yet, I still haven’t received a response) about…again, Taliban. What was sorta sad and humorous was that she said the same thing, “Muslims don’t condemn terrorism.” But there I was, condemning it in my comments box plus sending her links to Islam for Today which has this huge webpage of, what else? Condemnations! And she must have missed those darling American Muslims Against Terrorism buttons that grace the blogs of people like JD, Yursil and Tariq Nelson.
And there was the posting of hadith and the latest madness from some Taliban psycho, and we ALL know the dangers of people interpreting Islam through Digital Jurisprudence. Subhan’Allah, I can read a book on nuclear physics but that doesn’t make me a physicist. 
But this time, the comment was left by “Susan” and it ended with the name “Jenny.” Big red flag. What’s up with using two different names? I have to admit, this makes me think that she’s less than sincere. Only God knows. While I don’t really have any concrete blog rules, I do feel like that you should at least use one name. So in the rare times in my blogging history, I had to remove her comments. I can’t take behavior like that seriously.
:::By the by, do you see that no matter how much you condemn terrorism, it’s never enough? If only Bin Laden had a blog so they could all talk to him instead of the rest of us:::
There are people who go on and on about the plight of Muslim women but when offered a chance to interact with us, suddenly it’s like hearing crickets. That’s when you’ll see if feminist rhetoric becomes positive action or no action at all. If you are passionate, I mean really passionate about something, whatever that something is, you work and you fight for it. You have to put up or shut up.
But while I’m all in Susan or Jenny’s business trying to figure out if she’s sincere, I need to be more concerned about my sincerity. What am I doing to make things better? What can I do that goes beyond words on a blog? How can I translate my ideas into positive change. Well, I know my tajweed classes are taught at a small school for Muslim women called House of Muslimahs. I think supporting Muslim women to become educated in Islam is the best way to gain taqwa and to decipher between what is Islam and what is Hislam. My friend and cool Muslim visual artist Janet Aly used her artwork sales to raise money for the Mukhtar Mai Women Welfare Organization. I know many of you sisters and brothers out there have given tons of money to charitable organizations and have hosted many interfaith events with people of other faiths.
So, I hope and pray that with the remaining time in my life, I can use my time for God’s good work–whatever form that may take.
So Susan or Jenny, I’m still here. I will get that information about the sister in Australia and if you want it, you can have it. Let’s take our passions and direct them to something noble. And please forgive any part of this entry that may have seem snarky. After all, I’m American and we can be like that sometimes.
******
Note: 11:27 pm. She cleared up the Susan-Jenny issue. She uses both names together and seperately. But I have yet to receive a response to my email. If you’re still interested, Susan Jenny try the Muslim Women’s League and KARAMAH.
Jack Morris said,
April 28, 2008 at 4:28 am
Salaam alaikum, sister Issy Mo . . .
I am a friend of Mukhtar Mai. I am a non-Muslim who visited her village and her schools in Meerwala in 2005. I hosted a fund raising banquet for her in Sacramento in December 2007, (raised $32,000) and I was invited speak at the grand opening of her Mukhtar Mai Model Girls School in March 2008 – Alas, I did not go due to a heart condition.
Enough said on my relationship with one of the female greats of our world.
Mukhtar was never asked about Islam, male dominance, jirgas, and the like while in my company – and never by me. Something about this beautiful woman that says she knows there are problems with the way a small minority interpret and live their muslim faith and that it is pointless to bring these problems up since they also exist with the people of the earth no matter their religion, color or location.
Mukhtar seems to be above this form of questioning, her eyes downcast, a hint of a smile, her graceful manner suggesting quiet patience, love and compassion – she a role model for women everywhere. Men fall in love with her on first meeting, then retreat as minutes roll by feeling, as I did and do now, they are in the presence of someone very special, a Mother Teresa, an idol not to be pursed – praised, yes, and appreciated for the brief opportunity to share a moment of her life.
Your correspondent, Susan, needs to spend a few moments with sister Mukhtar and her friend, sister Naseem. The questions Susan has would be answered in a whispered voice that speaks clearly and honestly.
Jack
Izzy Mo said,
April 28, 2008 at 4:45 am
Hello Jack,
What an honor for you to have met Mukhtar Mai. Many of my online bloggin’ friends were raising awareness about her plight through articles and blog posts. Thank God that you were blessed to meet such an exceptional person in your lifetime. It’s amazing for her to have such dignity and grace and light of what happened to her–something that would destroy other people or drive them to commit suicide. She’s a great reminder of how I as a woman, Muslim and human being should be doing much more with the talents and liberties that God has blessed me with. May we all become exceptional people, helping each other for the sake of God’s pleasure, and thank you so much for leaving this wonderful comment.
Jack Morris said,
April 28, 2008 at 12:52 pm
And insha’Allah, we shall talk again.
Jack
genieyclo said,
May 19, 2008 at 2:01 pm
“…If only Bin Laden had a blog so they could all talk to him instead of the rest of us:::”
–lolllz, how true, how true.
Dana said,
September 24, 2008 at 1:32 pm
“There are people who go on and on about the plight of Muslim women but when offered a chance to interact with us, suddenly it’s like hearing crickets. That’s when you’ll see if feminist rhetoric becomes positive action or no action at all.”
That’s just it. Feminist *rhetoric.* It pains me to see Muslimahs consider themselves at odds with feminism, and feminists considering themselves at odds with Islam. I wanna shake both sides and go, “You have common cause here!” Especially the radical feminists. “Pornography is bad. Prostitution is bad. We are victims of the male gaze.” Hello, hijab? “Oh, that’s oppression too.” ORLY.
OK, I don’t wear hijab and I’m not Muslim… but I do understand that if you can’t make the fellas stop looking at you and it bothers you, one way to approach the situation is to play good defense. It won’t keep him from raping you but it WILL keep him from seeing things you don’t want him to see.
But it’s oppression… mmkay… right. If the government’s making people cover, then we can make a case for oppression. On the other hand I don’t hear radfems complaining that Americans have to wear clothes in public.
So… yeah. Feminism. I consider myself one, but I want to say to some others, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”