A recent editorial published in Khaleejtimes.com fuels the debate again between those of us who respect the “hijab” as our identity and those of us who want to simply be our “normal selves”. The editorial by an American Muslim convert highlights the Ahadeeth (sayings) of the prophet (saws) regarding women who decide to chose an alternate path to modesty as prescribed in Islam.

The issue I believe is not that whether women who choose not to wear the Hijab or dress modestly understand the Isalmic commandments, but rather has to do with the levels of faith. If you have faith (also called “Iman”), you will respect that faith and Iman (by following the commandments of the prophet and Quran). If you don’t, you will simply adopt other belief systems that would overtake the faith of Islam. Those other belief systems, for example, empowers the non-Hijab Muslim women to adapt the new change.

Again, it’s all about the level of faith and this concept applies to all walks of life. You opt to do certain things depending on the depth of your belief and commitment (unless you are being forced in some ways).

Everyone knows that Muslims, especially those living in North American and European countries have faced a lot of discrimination after the events of 9/11. Muslim women for example have constantly been criticized in the media and elsewhere about the Hijab and their Islamic lifestyles in general. While Muslims have reacted and responded to such discrimination in many ways, the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) decided to take a different approach on October 26^th, 2007.  

The Canadian Islamic Congress organized an event called the “National Pink Hijab Day” and gave away pink hijabs to Muslim as well as non-Muslim women to raise awareness of breast cancer and to raise funds for the “Susan G. Komen for the Cure” Foundation. This foundation’s is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. CIC’s organizers’ objective was to raise the awareness of Islamophobia, discrimination that Muslim women face in covering their heads and hair using the Hijab along with supporting the cause of breast cancer that organizers hoped will garner wider support and awareness of all issues.  

A good idea or not?  

The question does come up whether this sets a good precedent for such causes or does it hurt the cause of Islam and Hijab even more? CIC seems to be very happy with the turnout of people on October 26^th, 2007. However, there are many who do raise the question that mixing the issues of disease with unrelated religious matters may actually turnoff even those who have no biases against Islam, Hijab or any Muslim issues.  

Your comments are welcome !

Quite interestingly, several libraries and museums across the globe boastfully preserve old copies of Quran. However, the oldest known manuscrept of Quran is possessed by Mohammad bin Nasser Al-Kudry, a Saudi residing at Abha. You would wonder at the fact that the copy carries the date of the Hijrah year 116, which was more than 1,300 years ago.  

The library of the Great Mosque in Sanaa proudly displays a very old manuscrept of Quran handwritten by Imam Ali bin Abu Taleb, Zayd bin Thabit and Salman Al-Farsi. A library in Mashhad at Iran has the world’s largest collection of about 11,000 Quranic manuscrepts dated back from the first century.  

Based on a report published by Quatari daily named The Peninsula, Saeed Ali Al Suwaidi, a Quatari auctioned a calligraphic copy of Quran for $4.3 millions, which is about 400 years old. Notably, the manuscrept was completed over five long years ending with 1034 Hijri.  

Sources and additional readings:

http://www.topix.net/content/ap/2007/10/record-price-for-13th-century-quran-2

http://saudinf.com/main/y7418.htm

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/501758-holy-quran-manuscrept-may-sell-for-43mn?ln=en

http://www.islamonline.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=50739 

iris2083 is computer engineer currently residing in Cario, Misr (I can be contacted at iris2083@maktoob.com)