rEv0LuTi0n

bismillahirrahmanirrahim…

i’m now actually not in mood of blogging since I know that my proficiency in writing is very limited. but since i’ve posted an entry in this blog on last July 4th which was ummi’s bday, so 2b fair, i think i should also post something for 2day bcos it’s abah’s bday now (dec 14).

talking about december, for me it’s da most meaningful month since it bears many important events of my family and my personal life. bsides abah’s bday, my own birthdate is also on dcmber. furthermore, one of my bros was also born on december which was coincidentally on da same date as my parents’ wedding day (8/12) but of cos in different years. n 4 dis year, dis date (8/12) is more special than usual bcos it was also da 1^st day of eidul adha 1429H.

however, abah is not currently at home to celebrate his bday with us as he has a job matter outside truout dis wikend. umi has rpeatedly asked us of what surprise shud we give to abah when he’s back from the outstation but we’ve no feeling of doing so since abah is not with us dis moment. I can feel dat everyone in dis home (especially ummi) is in “missing abah” mode. but abah’ll b back today, mayb by tonite.

i do aware dat my parents won’t read any of my posts in dis blog until i tell them to do so (but i’ve never told them until now). i don’t really mind if they never read dis or do not even know dat i’ve dis “cincai” blog bcos i write jz 4 fun n jz 4 “kenang-knangan” which may help me in future to recall some memories of my parents (as long as my fs account still exists la kann..).

alhamdulillah, very thankful to Allah dat i still have both of my parents till now. they’re the most-most important persons 2 me in dis world n they’re among the main sources of strength in my life after Allah n my own self.

i wish my family is always be blessed by Allah…. ameen

p/s: when i post dis, abah is already at home. he arrived home after isya’ while i was busy solving Sudoku. apparently there was also award giving ceremony during his course (or program or watsoevr) n he got 2 awards. he showed us all the gifts happily, mayb those r da best things for his bday dis year since we give nothing to him. huhu.  then, we had dinner together eating roasted black pepper “korban” beef which was so-so-so-so….. spicy! cooked by my lil bro (helped by my sis, I did nothing since i was khusyuk playing with sudoku puzzle bought ystrday). b4 eating, abah recited a special doa for his birthday… =D

By Sara Bokker

I am an American woman who was born in the midst of America’s “Heartland.”I grew up, just like any other girl, being fixated with the glamour of life in “the big city.”Eventually, I moved to Florida and on to South Beach of Miami, a hotspot for those seeking the “glamorous life.”Naturally, I did what most average Western girls do.I focused on my appearance and appeal, basing my self-worth on how much attention I got from others.I worked out religiously and became a personal trainer, acquired an upscale waterfront residence, became a regular “exhibiting” beach-goer and was able to attain a “living-in-style” kind of life.

Years went by, only to realize that my scale of self-fulfillment and happiness slid down the more I progressed in my “feminine appeal.” I was a slave to fashion. I was a hostage to my looks.

As the gap continued to progressively widen between my self-fulfillment and lifestyle, I sought refuge in escapes from alcohol and parties to meditation, activism, and alternative religions, only to have the little gap widen to what seemed like a valley. I eventually realized it all was merely a pain killer rather than an effective remedy.

By now it was September 11, 2001.As I witnessed the ensuing barrage on Islam, Islamic values and culture, and the infamous declaration of the “new crusade,” I started to notice something called Islam.Up until that point, all I had associated with Islam was women covered in “tents,” wife beaters, harems, and a world of terrorism.

As a feminist libertarian, and an activist who was pursuing a better world for all, my path crossed with that of another activist who was already at the lead of indiscriminately furthering causes of reform and justice for all.I joined in the ongoing campaigns of my new mentor which included, at the time, election reform and civil rights, among others.Now my new activism was fundamentally different.Instead of “selectively” advocating justice only to some, I learned that ideals such as justice, freedom, and respect are meant to be and are essentially universal, and that own good and common good are not in conflict.For the first time, I knew what “all people are created equal” really means.But most importantly, I learned that it only takes faith to see the world as one and to see the unity in creation.

One day I came across a book that is negatively stereotyped in the West–The Holy Qur’an.I was first attracted by the style and approach of the Qur’an, and then intrigued by its outlook on existence, life, creation, and the relationship between Creator and creation.I found the Qur’an to be a very insightful address to heart and soul without the need for an interpreter or pastor.

Eventually I hit a moment of truth: my new-found self-fulfilling activism was nothing more than merely embracing a faith called Islam where I could live in peace as a “functional” Muslim.

I bought a beautiful long gown and head cover resembling the Muslim woman’s dress code and I walked down the same streets and neighborhoods where only days earlier I had walked in my shorts, bikini, or “elegant” western business attire. Although the people, the faces, and the shops were all the same, one thing was remarkably distinct–I was not–nor was the peace at being a woman I experienced for the very first time.I felt as if the chains had been broken and I was finally free.I was delighted with the new looks of wonder on people’s faces in place of the looks of a hunter watching his prey I had once sought.Suddenly a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.I no longer spent all my time consumed with shopping, makeup, getting my hair done, and working out. Finally, I was free.

Of all places, I found my Islam at the heart of what some call “the most scandalous place on earth,” which makes it all the more dear and special.

While content with Hijab I became curious about Niqab, seeing an increasing number of Muslim women in it. I asked my Muslim husband, whom I married after I reverted to Islam, whether I should wear Niqab or just settle for the Hijab I was already wearing.My husband simply advised me that he believes Hijab is mandatory in Islam while Niqab is not.At the time, my Hijab consisted of head scarf that covered all my hair except for my face, and a loose long black gown called “Abaya” that covered all my body from neck to toe.

A year-and-a-half passed, and I told my husband I wanted to wear Niqab.My reason, this time, was that I felt it would be more pleasing to Allah, the Creator, increasing my feeling of peace at being more modest.He supported my decision and took me to buy an “Isdaal,” a loose black gown that covers from head to toe, and Niqab, which covers all my head and face except for my eyes.

Soon enough, news started breaking about politicians, Vatican clergymen, libertarians, and so-called human rights and freedom activists condemning Hijab at times, and Niqab at others as being oppressive to women, an obstacle to social integration, and more recently, as an Egyptian official called it–”a sign of backwardness.”

I find it to be a blatant hypocrisy when Western governments and so-called human rights groups rush to defend woman’s rights when some governments impose a certain dress code on women, yet such “freedom fighters” look the other way when women are being deprived of their rights, work, and education just because they choose to exercise their right to wear Niqab or Hijab.Today, women in Hijab or Niqab are being increasingly barred from work and education not only under totalitarian regimes such as in Tunisia,Morocco, and Egypt, but also in Western democracies such as France, Holland, and Britain.

Today I am still a feminist,but a Muslim feminist,who calls on Muslim women to assume their responsibilities in providing all the support they can for their husbands to be good Muslims. To raise their children as upright Muslims so they may be beacons of light for all humanity once again. To enjoin good–any good–and to forbid evil–any evil.To speak righteousness and to speak up against all ills.To fight for our right to wear Niqab or Hijab and to please our Creator whichever way we chose.But just as importantly to carry our experience with Niqab or Hijab to fellow women who may never have had the chance to understand what wearing Niqab or Hijab means to us and why do we, so dearly, embrace it.

Most of the women I know wearing Niqab are Western reverts,some of whom are not even married. Others wear Niqab without full support of either family or surroundings. What we all have in common is that it is the personal choice of each and every one of us, which none of us is willing to surrender.

Willingly or unwillingly, women are bombarded with styles of “dressing-in- little-to- nothing” virtually in every means of communication everywhere in the world.As an ex non-Muslim, I insist on women’s right to equally know about Hijab, its virtues, and the peace and happiness it brings to a woman’s life as it did to mine.Yesterday, the bikini was the symbol of my liberty, when in actuality it only liberated me from my spirituality and true value as a respectable human being.

I couldn’t be happier to shed my bikini in SouthBeach and the “glamorous” Western lifestyle to live in peace with my Creator and enjoy living among fellow humans as a worthy person.It is why I choose to wear Niqab, and why I will die defending my inalienable right to wear it.

Today, Niqab is the new symbol of woman’s liberation to find who she is, what her purpose is, and the type of relation she chooses to have with her Creator.

To women who surrender to the ugly stereotype against the Islamic modesty of Hijab, I say:You don’t know what you are missing.

To you, the ill-fated corrupting conquerors of civilization, so-called crusaders, I say: BRING IT ON.

Sara Bokker is a former actress/model/ fitness instructor and activist. Currently, Sara is Director of Communications at “The March For Justice,” a co-founder of “The Global Sisters Network,” and producer of the infamous “Shock & Awe Gallery

bismillahirrahmanirrahim…

holiday comes to an end! today is da last day b4 continuing my education journey. a new sem begins tomorrow but now i’m still at home, enjoying several hours left b4 stepping back into da garden of knowledge n virtue. i’ve bought a bus ticket 2 kuantan dated tomorrow (july 7) @ 9.30 am from shah alam, means i’ve less than 24 hours to prepare myself 4 da journey. ~ preparing to b a 3rd year student ~

to me, dis almost-3-month-holiday has been colored by varieties of stories, memories n experiences from bad ones to sweet ones n also d ones dat didn’t give any feeling. some of them are very personal n d others are (i think) good to share - but they’re lots of them, dat i don’t hv any idea which one to share here =).

ok, among da most significant events for me during this holiday is about my "career". i’ve worked on two jobs truout dis holiday. for da first half of da holiday, i worked as a full-time surirumah n during da 2nd half, i’ve got an opportunity 2b a career woman *heh*… lots n lots of experiences i got when i was working but it’s not so joyful to story here, it’s better to talk by mouth n face 2 face. so, wait ya my frens.. b prepared 2 hear my tales when we meet soon.

howevr, not all stories are happy stories. but i take all the bad ones as tests from Allah swt to evaluate d iman of His servant. one bad thing dat i’d like to share here is my exam result 4 da last sem, OMG it drops so drastically!! i was so sad, but thinking of other nikmats He has given to me, i feel calmer n accept it with redha.

ok, dats all 4 now.. btw dis is da last post for dis holiday, not sure when da next post will be bcoz i do blogging just to fill up my leisure time. while in campus, leisure time is reserved for sleeping… =D

wassalam

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bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

ystrday was july 4, n it was
ummi’s bday. i felt dat i shud write sumthg here on dat special day but i was
so bizzy, no time for blogging nor even 2 switch my comp on. only 2day i’ve got
an opportunity 2 post sumthg here bcoz ystrday i was bz driving here n there,
went out as early as 8am to send my mum to masjid b4 driving her to police
station to make a rport regarding her missing ic (kad pngenalan) n then to
jabatan pendaftaran negara to make her new ic. n juz after rceiving her
temporary ic, we noticed dat d adress on d ic is the old one, so we decided to
change it into our current address but da rceptionist there said dat we’ve to
submit any bill (bil letrik or bil air etc) which shows da correct addres. we’ve
no choice than 2 go back home n get da bill b4 returning to pej pendaftaran.
actually, ummi’ve lost her ic since months ago but abah is always bz n bz n he
has to apply an off-day to settle da missing ic prob while i couldn’t help bcos
i’m not used to dis kind of job.

howevr, since ystrday was a
special day 4 ummi, i tried my best to accompany her doing all things related
to her ic. n finally evrthg has been settled. when abah called from his ofis,
umi said: "alhamdulillah, akhirnye dpt jugak wat ic baru, x yah bayar pape
pn" though da rceptionist said dat we’ve to pay ten ringgit to change d
adress. whilst, d payment to make new ic without police rport shud b hundred.
it’s wat we call rezeki, isnt it? but da ystrday’s journey hasn’t stopped yet.
on d evening i’d 2 head for fetching my adeks from their hostel (forgot to
mention dat yestrday was friday) which automatically means dat i’ve 2 send them
back to their hostel on sunday (tomorrow la..).. n yestrday also, i went
shopping for groceries twice at 2 different shops, but it was ok coz i njoy
driving.. =D

bsides mother’s day, ummi’s
birthday rminds me 2 her enormous sacrifice in growing her children. not 2 tell
d exact no of my siblings, i’ts enough 2 say dat i hv a large no of siblings,
each with their unique n ‘paham-paham-jela’ behaviours, so imagine how hard
umi’s life is in raising us n how patient she has to be in order 2 make us good
people who may benefit religion n nation. seeing umi’s patience n tolerance
2wards her family as well as her frequent tears makes me sumtimes think out:
"it’s so hard 2 be a mother, can i be as good as umi??". i think it’s
not too much to say dat umi is the most patient n forbearing person i’ve ever
met in dis world…

thruout my
almost-23-years-of-life, i’ve seen a lot of her sufferings which gradually
converted me into a solehah daughter of hers from a not-so-good one. frankly
speaking i was prviously a naughty, stubborn, rude, suke mnjwb + mlawan ckp, n
so on (lu pk la sndiri ape lg) - dat i always made umi cries. but all dat never
diminish nor weaken her love 2wards me. her forgiveness is always accompanying
her soft heart. dis really made me insaf n trying 2 b a gud daughter 2 repay
her deeds though i know her sacrifice couldn’t ever be paid by anythg. by being
a good daughter, at least it may help her in her after life. as preached by the
Prophet pbuh:

"apabila
mati seorang anak adam, terputuslah segala amalannya, kecuali tiga perkara:
ilmu bermanfaat, sedekah jariah dan doa anak soleh" or solehah…
=)

n in another hadith: "syurga itu berada di bawah telapak kaki ibu"

others:

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