LOS TEROPONG

NST- 24 June, 2005- Sports, page 44 - Sania Mirza said, "Maybe I wear short skirts but I pray five times a day and do the things that other Muslims do. Some men keep a beard and they don't do the things they are supposed to do." - India's Sania Mirza defending herself against her critics

So, I shall get straight to the point. Here's the deal. For women in Islam, to cover the whole body, except he hands and face is obligatory (1, 2, 3, 4). This is very, very clearly stated in the Quran. Anyone who want to contest it, go ahead, no one can say anything, we go into separate graves anyway. The beard is not compulsory. These are two different categories altogether.

Ok, I am not going to preach. There are enough articles on the net, just my thoughts. If Sania wants to wear short skirts and play tennis, who can stop her (maybe her parents, who are responsible for her), go ahead, but remember that

• as a muslim, you also represent the community at large, as all muslims are brothers (gender free, here)
• covering onself is not merely a dress but more importantly, it is behavior, manners, speech and appearance in public. Dress is only one facet of the total being.
• muslim women (and men) observe the aurat because Allah has told them to do so.

I will not draw any implications, for it would not be my place to be judgemental. But one cannot ignore the fact that we have been taught for so long to observe the prayers and it will protect us from doing things not proposed by Islam.

More importantly, let us not CHEAT our own self. On the Day of Judgement, we 'stand' ALONE before the Almighty to account for our actions. Nothing more, nothing less. We are not in a position to give excuses, lament, complain, not satisfied, grumble nor compare and say someone has a beard but don't do half the things one should. There is nothing hidden. There is nothing and nowhere to hide. The mouth is locked and the parts of the body will speak the truth. Defend yourself all you want, do not be cheated in the Eternal Life.

In truth, we can't be bothered what the next person does or don't do, not even the members of our family, not husband and wife, not even father and mother. We ALL have to deal with our own account!! No one can help us except ourself, the shafaat of the Prophet (saw) and the mercy of Allah.

In saying so, perhaps the Muslim global community can set up a parallel global agenda for women. Come on OIC, let's see some action, real action here. Stop becoming like NATO - No Action, Talk Only. Women can do anything, play anything, learn anything, achieve anything - all within the values of Islam. Men and women should not shake hands - the hands of the Prophet NEVER touched the female hands ('cept those allowable). But it is not the act of shaking hands that is not permissible, it is the touching of flesh. So, if it is 'somehow' covered, it would not violate the any rule. As always, we keep missing the point in implementing or doing something.

We can have muslim women tennis champion, shooter (like the women of Iran), women lawyers, doctors, architects, professors, anything. Remember, men from afar used to come to learn from the daughter of the Prophet (saw) because of her closeness to the Prophet (saw) and the knowledge that she has. The first Muslim on this planet was a women!! Don't short change yourself. With this, I remain, aiyaa, tak tau lah ...