Online Religious Intolerance Experiences

Have you had one?

I have been a victim of online religious intolerance in more than one occasion. Since then, I have reduced my interaction with the world on the Web, especially on Websites where one can have and share dialogues with people of other faiths and backgrounds. One of those incidents that had nearly got me into a state of complete depression was a conversation on a blog owned by an American Islamophobe called Daniel Pipes, who thinks that all Muslims are brown.

The Islamophobes on his blog did not believe that I was a Muslim woman who enjoys her life and is proud to follow Islam. They addressed me as a woman who is smothered by Sharia and they accused me of lying when I wrote that I am a young woman who finished her higher studies and that I got a job. They could not believe that a Muslim woman can choose to study and work. More than that was said and accusations against me and Islam were more appreciated than the facts that I presented to them. It was useless to argue. It continued for days and my mental state was getting worse. Later I decided to leave the online world.

But, my love for my religion and my sense for duty to protect it grew and I believed that the efforts of a few can do a great change. No matter what happens, I will use this blog as a window for the rest of the world so people with open minds can settle down and ponder.

Blindness is an enemy to mankind. Let their be light in our lives.

Humans Can Feel by Heart

Is this how you treat your prisoners? Then, shame on you!

If you are in Ehsan’s position, what will be your reaction? What will you be feeling?

Ramadan Questions & Answers

I would like to share some questions and answers regarding the holy month of Ramadan from Islam Question and Answer Website:

• How can she make use of her time when she is cooking in Ramadaan?
• Ramadaan fasting is not acceptable if one does not pray.
• Fasting makes her lazy and causes her to lose weight; can she not fast?
• He is afraid that he may become sick because of being underweight; is he allowed not to fast during Ramadan?
• It is better for pregnant and breastfeeding women not to fast if it is too hard for them to fast.
• Does wearing lipstick when fasting break the fast?
• When should a person make the intention to fast, and what if he finds out during the day that Ramadan has begun?
• Having fillings and applying medicine to the teeth does not affect the fast.
• Using toothpaste whilst fasting.
• Worship is love and veneration; it is not burdensome and difficult.
• Every person who is resident in a country is obliged to start and end the fast with its people.
• Does he have to make up what he missed of Ramadan before he became Muslim?
• He is going to travel and will remain abroad for three months; does he have to fast Ramadan?
• He wants to delay making up Ramadan fasts until winter because the days are shorter.

And here is a link to a book about “70 Matters Related to Fasting” from Islam Question and Answer.

The Third Chapter of the Quran: The Women

Peace be upon you!

Today, I started reading the third chapter of the Holy Quran, The Women. I would like to share with you some of the verses in this chapter:

Give unto orphans their wealth. Exchange not the good for the bad (in your management thereof) nor absorb their wealth into your own wealth. Lo! that would be a great sin. (2)

Quran 4:2

Forgiveness is only incumbent on Allah towards those who do evil in ignorance (and) then turn quickly (in repentance) to Allah. These are they toward whom Allah relenteth. Allah is ever Knower, Wise. (17) The forgiveness is not for those who do ill-deeds until, when death attendeth upon one of them, he saith: Lo! I repent now; nor yet for those who die while they are disbelievers. For such We have prepared a painful doom. (18)

Quran 4:17-18

Allah would make the burden light for you, for man was created weak. (28)

Quran 4:28

And covet not the thing in which Allah hath made some of you excel others. Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned, and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned. (Envy not one another) but ask Allah of His bounty. Lo! Allah is ever Knower of all things. (32)

Quran 4:32

Lo! Allah wrongeth not even of the weight of an ant; and if there is a good deed, He will double it and will give (the doer) from His presence an immense reward. (40)

Quran 4:40

Lo! Allah forgiveth not that a partner should be ascribed unto Him. He forgiveth (all) save that to whom He will. Whoso ascribeth partners to Allah, he hath indeed invented a tremendous sin. (48)

Quran 4:48

Lo! Allah commandeth you that ye restore deposits to their owners, and, if ye judge between mankind, that ye judge justly. Lo! comely is this which Allah admonisheth you. Lo! Allah is ever Hearer, Seer. (58)

Quran 4:58

When ye are greeted with a greeting, greet ye with a better than it or return it. Lo! Allah taketh count of all things. (86)

Quran 4:86

And whoso doeth good works, whether of male or female, and he (or she) is a believer, such will enter paradise and they will not be wronged the dint in a date-stone. (124)

Quran 4:124

Ye will not be able to deal equally between (your) wives, however much ye wish (to do so). But turn not altogether away (from one), leaving her as in suspense. If ye do good and keep from evil, lo! Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. (129)

Quran 4:129

O ye who believe! Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred, whether (the case be of) a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is nearer unto both (them ye are). So follow not passion lest ye lapse (from truth) and if ye lapse or fall away, then lo! Allah is ever Informed of what ye do. (135)

Quran 4:135

The View of “Saudi Woman” on Niqab Ban

The rebellious Saudi female blogger, Saudi Woman, has applauded the ban of Niqab in France. While some of her reasoning I agree with, I still am feeling sorry for how inconsiderate she is for her Niqabi sisters.

Saudi Woman wrote that:

When I read that the ban has gone through the French parliament with an overwhelming majority, I was unexpectedly ecstatic about it. I don’t live in France and I don’t even to plan to visit anytime soon and yet it made me happy that women there don’t have a choice.

You can sense hate by just reading her happy remarks. Even if she is a Saudi woman and that she hates wearing the Niqab, she does not have the right to stand and call for the ban of Niqab even for those women who chose to wear it.

The Muslim Me

Maybe, someone out there wonders about the life of a Muslim woman – what it is like, how she lives it, and if she likes it or not.

Being a Muslim girl in a Muslim country, here is a list of things I do:

• I enjoy my breakfast with the newspaper.
• I watch satellite TV, especially National Geographic, Discovery, Discovery Science, and Animal Planet channels.
• I listen to the radio. I love my Tecsun PL-600!
• I enjoy listening to Japanese songs. I love Akiko Shikata!
• I like Indian movies, especially when watching them on the plane.
• I watch some US TV series, especially Monk, House, CSI: Miami, Law and Order, Lost, and Jericho.
• I love my PSP and Nintendo DS.
• I spend hours working on my two HP laptops.
• I love driving my Suzuki Swift.
• I like noodles and pasta, especially with spicy ground beef tomato sauce!
• I love cats. They have some interesting qualities.
• I love my work. I go there early every morning.
• I love my country. Best wishes, UAE!
• I love the Japanese language. It can cause a headache, but it is wonderful.
• I support justice. I hate criminals and immorality.
• I try to help people. I feel so content.
• I am strict when it comes to rules, without which we will live in chaos.
• I fear Allah. He watches me and I feel embarrassed if I do a tiny bad thing.
• I pray five times a day, five minutes each. It reminds me to keep walking on the straight path.
• I try to be a good Muslim. I would like to be a reflection of true Islam.

I simply love life! I want to live a life free of sins. A sin-free life is really important for ensuring a pure soul and pure relationships with every thing in this world. Trust me!