Beauty is Everywhere

A flower in a Hell Cannon somewhere in Syria

(Syria)

A Muslimah in the Crowd

I find it fascinated the mix of feelings you receive when you tell people around you that you are a muslimah (a muslim woman) not only a muslimah, but also a revert (non-muslim born). You experience all kind of feeling and faces, you see those people who look surprised but interested in the topic, in your religion, in your story, but you also experience those who does look surprised, but as if it was a depressive thing, as if they could almost feel the pain (?) inside you….

What pain?

People still have the vision of oppression toward women in Islam, but the question is what does make them feel like this? Because we cover ourselves up? Because we stay at home and take care of the family?

People are afraid of the unknown, and when exposed to a different situation/information they prefer to assume things, not only assuming but also to complicate simple things, instead of going after the correct information, instead of asking around. When the lack of knowledge hits them, they just prefer to create an explanation that they would be satisfied with, that would mentally protect themselves or their own believes.

I can’t understand why they have that feeling of a covered woman is oppressed while a half naked woman is not. What does prevent the half naked woman not to be hit by her husband or not to obey him? And what makes they think that just because one covers herself up, she is totally oppressed by her family/society?

Have you ever thought that maybe we cover ourselves up, because we simply like to do so? Because we feel good doing what God commanded as to do? Because we feel proud to be following our religion not because we are oppressed but because this is our belief?

Sometimes I feel like these people studied too much math at school: If it is simple, then it is wrong.

These days I was talking to my mom about it, and she reminded me of a documentary we (pretty much everybody in my country since it was on open TV) watched about the life of some couples in Middle Eastern countries, showing the life of 5 or 6 women who suffered domestic violence. But wait… do these 5 or 6 women really represent a whole nation? Does it represent the life of every Middle Eastern couple? Or every Arab couple? Or even, every Muslim couple? Does it only happen to Muslims? Or we could not be able to find 5 or 6 women who suffered domestic violence among the non-muslims as well?

It’s pretty easy to gather 6 people with a similar background and assume it is the whole nation’s background.

It is also pretty easy for me to go to a not well known country in the globe, and come back home telling everybody that in that place people do this and that. Who would say I’m wrong when nobody else was there to confirm it?

It is easy to visit Afghanistan and come back saying that women there is forced by their husbands to wear a burqa otherwise they would beat them up at home. Who would say I’m wrong? My neighbor? Did she ever go to Afghanistan to say otherwise?

“Oh it is wrong, they wear burqa because they want to, not because their husband commanded them to.” –Neighbor

I’m not an old nor experienced person, but with the small knowledge and experience I have I can easily affirm to you that “Life is the same all around the world”. You will find happy and not happy people and couples everywhere in the globe; it doesn’t depend on where you are or what’s your religion. Good and bad people are everywhere.

The fact that the clothes cover our body doesn’t mean that it covers also our personalities. The clothes don’t make us feel less important in the society, it can cover our mouths but it doesn’t shut it. Just because we wear a hijab doesn’t mean that we don’t have self confidence or our own opinions. It also doesn’t prevent me of being a schooled or smart person.

Or you really think we don’t know how to deal with our business by our own?

“Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well and that if they do wrong you will do wrong. But accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong if they do evil.” 

-Prophet Muhammad (saw) -Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1325.

A Brief analysis of IS community and a comparison with other Islamist groups community and how it influences in their support and unity

I bet lots of people already caught themselves wondering why Dawlah is such a strong group and how did they raise so fast…organization, money, oil? Yeah maybe, but I think that far and foremost “Unity” would be the best answer.

I’m not here to defend IS nor any other group, they all have their good and bad points, but no doubt that one of the best points of Dawlah is their sense of community. Not only regarding katibat and mujahideen but also their supporters and even online community.

Not saying that rebel groups need their own version of the Baqiyyah Family, but indeed they need to focus more on the support and unification of their own community.

The thing is, in IS’s perspective, it doesn’t matter who you are, as long as you are a supporter of Dawlah they will simply receive and support you, even if you don’t share the same ideas, they will in most of cases try to explain to you why things are the way they are and if you commit any mistake, they might fight you, but they wont turn their back to you.

IS supporters care about knowing each other, and even if they don’t, they have total conscience that you are their brother/sister and they will be there for you. So if you ended up in a “beef” with someone from a rival group, give them 5 minutes and you will see you will not be the only Baqiyyah around.

Of course it also reflects in the ground. IS leaders have total confidence in one another, something that calls attention on their leadership structure is that they don’t always need to ask for permission from their superiors.

Bias infection: Ofc the bad point in this support is that, if you don’t support them, you are directly classified as Kuffar, Sahawat or Murtad. Because you know, there is no “muslim” option cuz to be muslim you should be part of the fanclub.

On the other hand, we see a lack of support coming from rebel side, groups not always agree between themselves and when disagreed, they simply fight each other…

Of course cuz there isnt anything more logical to do.

As the case of Nusrah and Ahrar, two strong groups that unfortunatelly have different perspectives and opinions and instead of leaving all this behind and fight for the same cause, they decided to just start some fitnah until they realised it was bringing nothing to nowhere. Alhamdulillah Allah opened their eyes.

As for their online community, we notice a weak support from their side. They don’t really interact with eachother, what makes their community smaller, since they don’t really take the chance to get to know eachother. Different than IS people, we can say that they are not so LOUD.

Also they don’t really have a whole “market campaign” to gather support, online or physically, nor they are as accessible as IS are. Which make it difficult to people to reach them and have more contact to the situation the group are facing.

When it’s about advises, Islamists supporters are more reserved than IS people and don’t really advise their friends/followers as much as IS do, which is sad because there are lots of knowledgeable people out there . IS on the contrary loves to comment on things and point your mistakes out to correct you, sometimes even in a kind of brute way, but anyways, advises are always welcome….

On the other hand, the fact that IS supporters speak too much, doesn’t mean that they have knowledge about topics, in many moments, they just speak out of ignorance instead of reamining silent about the issue.

And Allah says in the Quran, 

And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all those [one] will be questioned. (al-Isra’ 17:36)

Islamists are more quiet regarding talking about what they know not, and most of the time they prefer to shorten the topic by saying “I don’t know” or not even commenting at all.

The way they answer is also another issue, Baqiyyah people are always so excited and ready to answer that doesn’t matter what the group does, they will always go wild praising them, what makes them sounds childish most of the times. Now, islamists supporters are much more contained, they don’t go out jumping around when something happens, instead they keep the formalite, since its all about a war, not about a play.

We also rarely see Islamists supporters commenting, discussing or even questioning group’s actions, they are more silent, while in IS community any topic turns into a whole thread where people give their points of view, ask questions, etc. They don’t only interact with eachother but also participate somehow. Sometimes even some mujahideen appear to answer some questions and make themselves available, bringing the reality of the ground to the thread.

While in the Islamists side, mujahideen not always interact with supporters and not always discuss things.

Comparing IS to other groups, jihadists and non jihadists, in the global history, they are probably the most sociable, until now we had that far sight of fighter/soldier, since in our perpective, they didn’t have much time to spend outside the battlefield/engaging war affairs. IS on the other hand take their time to be “charismatic” to whoever wants to listen to them.

How right or wrong this “not so formal” IS approach is, nobody knows, it’s probably the first time that fighters have contact with “outsiders” the way IS does and for sure it makes us feel like part of their community, this indeed brought them not only attention but also support.

Other islamists groups prefer to take things more professional(?) and ended up not giving so much attention to their supporters . But maybe they need to start opening their minds and hearts, I don’t mean regarding supporters only, but to other islamists groups. They are stronger together than fighting each other and if they really unit themselves, they will for sure have more chances.

Maybe they just need some dialogue.

Aleppo was a good example of a place that could be in a different situation today if groups had united before. The assault happened at the same time as an “agreement” that was going on between groups, which Nusrah and Ahrar agaaain couldn’t agree at first, so while they were trying to figure out some points, the Regime was preparing the attack.

Unfortunately it seems like Islamists groups are more interested in compete with each other than actually unite each other to achieve a goal that is common to all of them. They should bear in mind that this fight is not about Power but about to liberate a whole country and its people.

Insha Allah with this Aleppo offensive things will change.

Islamists groups have been facing a huge loss of commanders during these previous months, its comprehensive that a loss of a senior local commander destabilizes and brings disunity to the already volatile situation on the ground.

And that’s exactly what the enemy wants, destabilization causes disunity, that’s what Russia and Iran Military advisors were planning with its strategic pivoting. So that’s the moment to do exactly the opposite, to be strong, and to strengthen the union.

It’s a fact that everybody wants to rule, but first things first, what matter now is to free Shaam and take Bashar out of the power.

Well, the point here is not to offend groups by pointing out their mistakes, but highlight some points that in MY point of view could be improved.

In my opinion: Yes groups can be more humble to each other (im not talking about mujahideen individually, im talking about groups as a whole). They need to focus on the support they receive and fortify their communities. They do need to be more open and have more dialogue, pointing out good points and points to improve of each group. You are all brothers, you should advise each other and accept the advises of others as well. 

Afterall, all groups have a common factor on the ground: Fighting the Regime and libertating Syria (InshaAllah).

And remember, fight for the sake of Allah, to make His words the highest, not for groups.

"How could a Muslim woman attain the reward of a Martyr?" - Translation Portuguese and Spanish

English

I am a Muslim girl whose single greatest concern is attaining martyrdom for the sake of Allaah The Almighty but I cannot fight in the battlefield, so what should I do to attain such a rank when I die? May Allaah The Almighty Reward you with good.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad , is His slave and messenger. May Allaah The Almighty Bless the questioner and Grant all of us sincerity regarding all acts of obedience. It is an established fact that if an individual observed sincere intentions to offer any act of worship and was then prevented from fulfilling it due to any reason, Allaah The Almighty Will Reward him even though he did not do it. This ruling is supported by the following Hadeeth:

Sahl Ibn Haneef narrated that the Prophet, said: "Whoever sincerely asks Allaah for martyrdom, Allaah Will Grant him the status of the martyrs even if he died on his bed.” [Muslim] Anas ibn Maalik narrated that when the Messenger of Allaah, returned from the Battle of Tabook and approached Al-Medeenah, he said, "There are some people in Al-Medeenah who were with you all the time. You did not travel any portion of the journey nor crossed any valley but they were with you”. They (i.e. the Companions) said, "O Messenger of Allaah, even though they were in Al-Medeenah?" He said, "Yes, because they were prevented by a genuine excuse." [Al-Bukhaari].

Jihaad is confined to men and not women. However, cases in which women participate in Jihaad are few. Moreover, most women may not be able to participate in Jihaad due to their situations and natural biological conditions that Allaah The Almighty Created them with. Therefore, Allaah The Almighty Legislated peculiar rulings for women. Having realized the great reward of Jihaad, ‘Aa’ishah, the Mother of the Believers wished to share in it. So the Messenger of Allaah , directed her to an affordable way to attain such a reward.

She said: "O Messenger of Allaah, we consider Jihaad as the best of deeds. Should we not then go for Jihaad?" The Messenger of Allaah , replied, "No, but the best Jihaad for you (women) is a Hajj Accepted by Allaah." [Al-Bukhaari].

So an accepted Hajj is your way and of women like you to attain such a reward. It is also the way of weak men as stated in other narrations.

Anas narrated that women came and complained to the Messenger of Allaah , that men attained superiority as they participate in Jihaad whereas women do not. He , replied: “The efforts of a woman in serving her family at home raises her to the rank of the Mujahideen, Allaah Willing” [Abu Ya`laa].

Allah Knows best.

Português:

Eu sou uma mulher muçulmana cujo maior desejo é alcançar o martírio em nome de Allah o Onipotente, mas eu não posso lutar em guerras, então o que posso fazer para alcançar esse rank quando eu morrer? Que Allah o Onipotente te recompense.

Todos os louvores pertencem a Allah o Senhor dos Mundos. Eu testemunho que não outra divindade além de Allah, e Muhammad é o mensageiro de Allah. Que Allah o Onipotente abençoe este que pergunta e conceda à todos nós sinceridade em todos os atos de obediência. É fato que se um individuo possui intenções sinceras de oferecer um ato de adoração, mas é impedido de cumpri-lo por qualquer motivo, Allah o Onipotente o recompensará por suas intenções.

Sahl Ibn Haneef  narrou que o Profeta, disse: Quem pedir sinceramente à Allah pelo martírio, Allah concederá a ele o status mesmo se ele morrer na cama. [Muslim] Anas Ibn Maalik narrou que quando o Mensageiro de Allah retornou da Batalha de Tabook e se aproximou de al-Madeenah, ele disse, “Há algumas pessoas em al-Madeenah que ficaram contigo o tempo todo. Você não viajou nenhum parte da sua jornada Nem atravessou nenhum vale sem que eles estivessem com você”. Eles (os Companheiros) perguntaram: “Oh Mensageiro de Allah, mesmo que eles tendo ficado em  al-Madeenah?”  Ele respondeu: “ Sim, porque eles foram impedidos por uma causa genuína.” [al-Bukhaari].

Jihad é restrito aos homens, não às mulheres. Apesar de serem poucos, há casos onde as mulheres também participam em Jihad, porém grande parte das mulheres podem não ser capaz de participar em Jihad em conseqüência da situação e condição biológica com que Allah o Onipotente as criou. Portanto, Allah o Onipotente, criou regras específicas para as mulheres. Sabendo das grandes recompensas do Jihad, Aa’ishah, a Mãe dos Crentes também gostaria de participar, então pediu ao Mensageiro de Allah para que a direcionasse ao caminho certo para receber tal recompensa.

Ela falou: ”Oh Mensageiro de Allah, nós consideramos Jihad a melhor das ações. Não devemos nós (mulheres) também tomar parte em Jihad?” O Mensageiro de Allah  respondeu, “Não, o melhor Jihad para vocês (mulheres) é o Hajj aceito por Allah.” [al-Bukhaari].

Um Hajj aceito é o melhor modo para as mulheres de receber tal recompensa. É também o modo para os homens incapazes de participar de batalhas, como mencionado em outras narrativas.

Anas  narrou que algumas mulheres reclamaram para o Mensageiro de Allah  que os homens alcançavam superioridade devido ao fato de poderem participar em Jihad enquanto as mulheres não. Ele respondeu: “Os esforços de uma mulher em cuidar de sua casa e de seus filhos, a elevam ao mesmo rank que dos Mujahideen, Insha Allah.” [Abu Ya’laa].

Allah é quem melhor sabe.

Español:

Soy una mujer musulmana y mi mayor deseo es alcanzar el martirio en nombre de Allah el Todopoderoso, pero no puedo luchar en guerras, entonces que puede hacer para alcanzar ese Rank al morir?

Todas las gracias son para Allah, el Señor de los Mundos. Atestiguo que no hay dios sino Dios y Muhámmad es el enviado de Dios. Que Allah el Todopoderoso bendiga este que cuestiona y conceda a todos, sinceridad en todos los actos de obediencia. Es fato que se una persona tiene intenciones sinceras de ofrece un acto de adoración, pero es impedido de cumplir por alguna rasión, Allah el Todopoderoso se le recompensa por sus intenciones.

Sahl Ibn Haneef  narró que el Profeta dice: “Quien pedir con sinceridad a Allah por martirio, Allah se le conceda el status mismo que él murió en la cama.” [Muslim]. Anas Ibn Maalik  narró que cuando el Mensajero de Allah volvió de la batalla de Tabook y se acercó de al-Madeenah, él dice: “Hay algunas personas en al-Madeenah que  estaban con usted todo lo tiempo. No viajaste cualquier parte y no cruzó cualquier valle a menos que estuvieran con usted.” Ellos (los Compañeros) preguntaran: “Oh Mensajero de Allah, mismo si se quedaron en al-Madeenah? Respondió: “Sí, porque fueron impedidos por una causa genuina.” [al-Bukhaari].

Jihad se es restringido a los hombres y no a las mujeres. Aunque que son pocos, hay casos en que las mujeres participan en la Jihad, pero la mayoría de las mujeres pueden no ser capaces de participar en la Jihad como consecuencia de la situación y la condición biológica que Allah el Todopoderoso los creó. Por lo tanto, Allah el Todopoderoso, creó normas específicas para las mujeres. Sabiendo de los grandes beneficios de la Jihad, A'ishah, la Madre de los Creyentes también le gustaría participar, entonces se preguntó al Mensajero de Allah para guiarla en camino de recibir una recompensa tal.

Ella dice: “Oh Mensajero de Allah, nós consideramos Jihad a melhor das ações. Não devemos nós (mulheres) também tomar parte em Jihad?” O Mensajero de Allah respondió: “No, la mejor Jihad para usted (las mujeres) es el Hajj aceptado por Allah.” [al-Bukhaari].

Un hajj aceptado es la mejor manera para que las mujeres reciban tal recompensa. Es también la manera de los hombres que no pueden participar en batallas, como se ha mencionado en otras narraciones.

Anas narró que algunas mujeres quejado ante el Mensajero de Allah que los hombres alcanzan la superioridad debido al hecho de que puedan participar en la Jihad mientras que las mujeres no lo hacen. Él dijo: "Los esfuerzos de una mujer el cuidado de su casa y de sus hijos, para elevar el mismo rank que los mujahideen, In sha Allah.

Allah sabe mejor.

Sources: Answer by Islamweb, traslation by Umm Hurayrah al Majariyyah