Pageantry and Islam; Are Muslim women dowdy?

Over the past week, there have been different reactions mostly on social media to an event that has previously not been ascribed to Muslims; a beauty pageant for Muslimahs. While going through some of the reactions, I observed that even some Non-Muslims found it strange whilst some supported it and saw it as a means of empowerment/liberation of the Muslim woman(really?). As expected, this gave islamophobes the opportunity to attack the Muslims who opposed the event by saying terrorism should be dealt with before issues as mundane as beauty contests should be addressed. Some said, after all they didn't expose their bodies, why should it be a problem? Could it be the fact that they were covered in a pageant that caused all the reactions? Is the hijab synonymous to pageantry? The most hilarious was a person who said Muslims are a bunch of saddists,lol! Are we really that uptight? Is being beautiful and fashionable a taboo for us?

Life's Tests; The Olivers in us

So, I'm back here after several months. So many things have happened in these months
yet it seems like so little has happened. I apologize for the long absence and pledge to keep it
going, bi'idhnillaah. Will I share all my reasons for being absent here? Nah! Those stories can
become award-winning lullabies. However, from time to time, you'll be hearing the fun part of my
long break, inshaAllaah. Being absent from here brought me to remembering and accepting that
the affairs of the sons and daughters of Adam are always only in the Hands of the Most High. We
only strive according to that which is in our abilities and whatever the outcome, our trust in Him
should not waver. This brings me to the topic of today, how do we deal with the Olivers in us when
faced with the tests that the dunya is filled with?


You may be wondering what Oliver has got to do with this? We'll get there. Often repeated is that
that describes the affair of the believer as wonderful and good for him; If good befalls him,
he is thankful and that is good for him. If harm befalls him, he is patient and that is also good for
him. This (prosperous state of being) is only for the believer. Most of us will say, SubhaanAllaah!

How true! Yes, it is true but is it true only when we are touched by good? Or true only when we
are saying it to others who are going through trials? Do we as individuals remember this saying at
the moment we are afflicted by one of life's tests or do we fall into a state of despair and get
frustrated? For some of us, it takes some time to accept the reality of a bad situation and see it as
just a test. This is normal because after all, we are only human but it becomes unhealthy when we
are unable to leave that initial state of sadness that comes with bad tidings and keep on being
in a state of despondency. This makes us the Oliver mentioned earlier because like Oliver Twist,
we want more. An inner voice may be saying, 'No! I don't want more, I just want this phase to end'
denying that what we seek is more, more and more while failing to recognize the immediate
blessings around us. It may sound silly to tell a person who is hungry with no hope of the next
meal to look up at the skies or look at people around her and see the beauty in their diversity. Yet,
the intent is to let that person be grateful for the gift of eyesight. Will the same person trade her
sight for food if possible? Even a blind person may despair so much but the wise one will be
grateful for all the obscenity and sin that being unable to see has helped her avoid. The same
goes for parents who have just lost a child, perhaps their patience at that time of loss will be their
means of attaining Jannah.

Evidently, we will get the more we desire during those times but it comes with a price. A price of
being patient and turning only to the One who can help us out while seeking lawful means of
Jrelief. Being patient not only in hope of relief but also in hope of getting closer to Him! Surely,
Allaah is with the patient {Qur'an 8;46}. Despair will bring no good and may lead to sin due to
desperation. Like these verses say, "Verily, man is created very impatient. Irritable (discontented)
when evil touches him. And niggardly when good touches him. Except those who are devoted to
their Salat (prayers)" {Qur'an 70; 19-22}. Therefore, a people who observe Salat should be a
people who strive to have a beautiful patience, right? On that note, I remind you of the
supplication of Umm Salamah after she lost her beloved husband; Inna lillaahi raaji'oon.
Allaahuma' jurni fee museebatee wa akhlif lee khayran minhaa- We are from Allaah and to Him
we return. O Allaah take me out of my plight and bring to me after it something better.
You know the husband she got after that? I know you do;)

Please share with me how you deal with your inner Olivers both in times of good and trying
times. This miskeenah will be so grateful. Till I write again, remember always that life itself is a
test and the real life is in Jannah.