Yay for Al-Risalah!

Quick update, because it's exam week and I shouldn't be wasting precious studying time on the Internet!

Anyways, as most of you probably know, Issue 2 of The Torch was released last Friday, with the remaining 300 distributed today. I remember eagerly grabbing hold of the copy for the first time, anticipating how my articles would look like in print, before getting down to the business of distribution.

But before I could even open it, one of the other reporters, Hamed, pulled me aside and cried out, 'Anisah, you get like two whole pages to yourself! Look at it! It's like a takeover!'

Oops!

So, yeah, all the articles on both page 10 and 11 have my name on the byline. I honestly had no idea that the pages for Al-Risalah and Learn It would be side by side. It really does look like I took over Issue 2, doesn't it? :-/ So I think an explanation is in order.

Originally, I volunteered to fill up the pages for Learn It only. Which, I did, obviously.

Al-Risalah, on the other hand, was assigned to other writers. Nazriq (Issue 2's editor) had already made it clear to the editorial team what his vision for Al-Risalah in Issue 2 was: make it engaging, easy to understand, and most of all, easy to relate to. 

But, well, stuff happened and I ended up volunteering to rewrite Al-Risalah at the last minute.

Alhamdulillah, so far, feedback for the Al-Risalah articles has been good. I noticed, though, that those who enjoyed Having A Bad Hijab Day? tend to be girls who already wear the hijab. I'm really curious to know how it made an impact on the real target audience... Did it help them in any way? Or did it (yikes!) offend them?

Anyway, now that Issue 2's been printed, I think it's safe for me to post the other article I wrote for Al-Risalah, which is How We Define A Hypocrite.

(Original title I came up with was What's In A Hypocrite? Tapi mesti NST tukar because the hijab article also had a question mark in it. Oh well!)

***

How We Define A Hypocrite

“She wears the hijab, but I hear she has a boyfriend. What a hypocrite!”

“I hate how people are wearing hijab just because of fashion. Hypocrite, much?”

Hold it, gossipmongers! Instead of pointing fingers at other people and labelling them as hypocrites, we should all take a breather and attempt to understand what a hypocrite really is.

According to Islamic law, there are two types of hypocrites; the greater hypocrite and the lesser hypocrite.

Greater hypocrites present an outward appearance of believing in Allah and the other five articles of faith, when in their hearts they don’t believe in some or any of it all.

For example, if someone goes around loudly proclaiming “Allahu Akbar!” while secretly wondering whether she will inherit her grandmother’s saka in time to find a husband before the crow’s feet sets in, that person is probably a hypocrite.

Lesser hypocrites, on the other hand, present an outward appearance of being good and performing good deeds while concealing within their hearts that which contradicts their actions.

For instance, if a person volunteering at the soup kitchen thinks, “this is such a waste of time and resources, but it sure makes me look noble!” as he hands over a plate of nasi lemak to the hungry homeless, then he might be a hypocrite, too.

The important point here is that what defines a person as a hypocrite lies in their hearts. So who are we to label anyone as a hypocrite, when only Allah knows what is in a person’s heart?

Besides, if we ever do come across a girl who may have been influenced by fashion to take up the hijab, the word “hypocrite” shouldn’t be the first thing that springs to mind. Instead, we should be grateful to Allah that people feel more encouraged by society to cover their aurah.

And if you see a hijabi indulging in what you believe is un-Islamic behaviour, then that doesn’t necessarily mean she is being a hypocrite. It means she makes mistakes – just as everyone else on this planet, hijabi or not, makes mistakes. Rather than making snide remarks behind her back, take the opportunity to step in and encourage her to become a better Muslim.

“Invite (all) to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching...” (16:125).

Meanwhile, the following are signs of a hypocrite – not as a guide for you to initiate a hypocrite-hunt among your peers and burn them alive, but for all of us to ponder on whether we may unconsciously be dabbling in it as well.

1)      1. When he speaks, he lies.

2)      2. When he argues, or is involved in disagreements, he becomes overtly angry and explodes.

3)      3. When he is entrusted with something, he violates it.

4)      4. When he promises, he goes back on his promise.

If these signs are making you doubt yourself, don’t worry: it’s perfectly natural. Ibn Abi Malaika said: “I encountered thirty Companions of Rasulullah (SAW), every one of them fears hypocrisy for himself and Al-Hassan Al-Basri used to say about it: No one fears it but a believer and no one feels safe from it but a hypocrite.” (Bukhari)

And if we ever feel that we might be exhibiting signs of hypocrisy, there is no need to resign ourselves to the lowest depths of hell-fire.

“... for those who repent, mend (their lives) hold fast to Allah, and purify their religion as in Allah’s sight: if so they will be (numbered) with the Believers. And soon will Allah grant to the believers a reward of immense value.” (4: 146)

I don’t know how to say this, but...

You know, when I see hijabis dressed up so...there’s no other word for it... outrageously in a way that totally makes people look twice (usually in shock and bemusement), I really get confused.

It’s especially confusing when they post endless photos of themselves in all their crazy getup on their blogs, as if to invite more people to ogle and heap praises at them.

Example:

Am I the only person who thinks it defeats the purpose of wearing the hijab in the first place?

Hijab is, among other things, meant to symbolise modesty...isn’t it?

I don’t know la... I know this is a controversial topic, and I know I personally have a lot to improve on when it comes to aurah, and I really don’t want to come off as the haram police or something...

But it just bothers me.

And that's why I'm posting it here. I'd like to know what you guys think. Is it a good way to encourage more muslim women to don the hijab? Or is it an affront to the meaning of hijab?

Having a Bad Hijab Day?

Salam everyone!

Remember I said I was going for the production meeting of The Torch on Friday? Well, one of the outcomes was that I ended up volunteering to write an additional article for the Al-Risalah section, the home of the Islamic articles.

I'm really excited about what I wrote and just can't wait until October 28th for people to read it, so I decided to post it on my blog, just to share it with you guys :D

Even though its an article about hijab, which is a female-centric topic, I hope you males out there could read it as well and spread it to your female friends.

Also, again, allow me to warn you that on October 28, when you get your copy of The Torch, Issue 2, you might find this article either radically altered, or absolutely non-existent. You have been warned!

***

Having a Bad Hijab Day?

By Anisah Shurfa Mohammed Shukry

Out comes the hijab from the front compartment and shoved hastily onto the head; from the backseat, an abaya (robe) is swiftly retrieved and thrown over the body.

 “I’m just not ready to wear the hijab full-time,” the sister sighs as she drives through the literal gates to The Garden of Knowledge and Virtue.

There are many reasons she may give for being underprepared; (1) she doesn’t want to be branded a hypocrite, (2) she feels that it’s unflattering, or (3) she just doesn’t think it’s necessary.

“I don’t want to be a hijabi hypocrite!”

Many of us feel that we shouldn’t be wearing the hijab unless we’re paragons of goodness and all things wonderful in Islam.

Otherwise, wearing the hijab when we don’t really “mean” it or aren’t “sincere” about it will cause us to languish in the lowest depths of hell-fire for being a hypocrite.

The real truth, however, is that donning the hijab, even if it is with mixed feelings, is a step towards the right direction: that of becoming a better Muslim.

After all, as Yusuf Islam says, “Islam is not a state of being. It is a process of becoming.”

It’s perfectly natural to feel awkward, or uncomfortable, when first wearing the hijab; to expect otherwise would be unrealistic. But give it some time, and eventually you’ll become so used to wearing it in public, not wearing it would be as weird as leaving the house without pants on. And you’ll appreciate it just as much.

But if you still feel like a wretched “hypocrite” for wearing the hijab while indulging in certain “activities”, here’s a suggestion:

Don’t quit the hijab – it’s your conscience calling out to you. Instead, quit the activities and find something to do that won’t make you feel like ripping that cloth off your head in shame.

 “But people say I don’t look pretty when I cover up!”

Ask people what they think is attractive, and you’ll get all sorts of answers; tall and thin / voluptuous and curvy /small and cute. In fact, some people even have an affinity for sparkling vampires.

The bottom line is, what people think is beautiful doesn’t matter. We humans are fickle and our preferences are shaped by our society and cultural values.

For instance, now vampires are all the rage, but who says that by 2012, human-robot-fish hybrids won’t be The Next Big Thing?

On the other hand, Allah’s preferences always remain consistent throughout the centuries.

 And, honestly, would you prefer Allah see you as beautiful, or that greasy guy with the smoker’s breath you bumped into on the streets last week?

Besides, nowadays, so many hijab-clad women are emerging in the media to challenge the notion that Bare Skin is Beautiful.

Hijab hotties: Yuna and Hana Tajima

For instance, Malaysians are currently head-over-heels with Hana Tajima, the petite, adorable fashion designer from London with her own unique style of wearing the hijab.

Even websites like welovehijab.com, which offer suggestions on how to pull off a look that is simultaneously beautiful and modest, are cropping up everywhere.

In the end, ask yourself this; if you can cover parts of the body that the Westerners deem inappropriate for the public eye, why can’t you also cover the parts that Islam says are too precious to be exposed?

“I don’t need to wear the hijab to be a good Muslim.”

You could say that there’s more to Islam than covering your body, which is completely true.

You could say that hijab isn’t a measure of one’s faith, which is an undeniable truth.

You could say that the most important thing is to have a purified heart.

That is also true.

In fact, it is mentioned in the Qur’an that on the Day of Judgement, “...only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a sound heart” (26:89).

But then, ask yourself this – how do you go about purifying your heart in the first place?

Being a real Muslim encompasses your physical aspect, and not just your spiritual aspect.

Otherwise, we might as well have been created as gassy substances doomed to worship God in spirit form alone, for all the good that we were doing with our limbs.

As such, covering your aurah is just as monumental a part of being a Muslim as praying five times a day, performing acts of charity, and sharing the beauty of Islam with one another is.

Remember, your end goal on this planet is to attain Allah’s love and pleasure. So would you honestly let your hair get in the way of that?

The Torch, Issue 2 In Progress

So, tomorrow me and the other team leaders of The Torch Issue 2 will be storming NST headquarters once again for the production of Issue 2! We'll be deciding which article will go on which page, which won't make the cut, which will make the cut but require major reworking, etc.

Nervous like MAD because Issue 2 is our baby -- or to be more specific, Mine, Nazriq's, Leila's, Aisyah's, Hamed's and Naeema's baby -- cuz this time the six of us came up with the story ideas for this issue, with Nazriq at the lead as Issue 2 Editor.

(FYI, different issues have different core teams managing it. So this issue may have a different... feel to it compared to the first one, thanks to the people at the helm! Whether its better or not, you'll be the judge... ;-) )

The Torch Issue 1, at last week's distribution

For this issue, I happily volunteered to be the head of the Life and Learn it sections -- arguably the most potentially interesting sections of the whole paper. (I mean, come on -- I doubt I'm the only person out here who always skips to the Variety section of The Sunday Star first thing in the morning...)

So most, if not all, the stories in Life were the result of my squeezing my brains out and capturing the juice to form ideas that I believed could captivate readers' interests, and then assigning the most suitable reporters to flesh 'em out.

For Life of The Torch, Issue 2, the articles included are concert reviews, food reviews, book reviews, and more!

Are you excited now? :-D

Ironically, I haven't written a single article for the Life section -- the guy in charge at NST, Michael, rejected the story I assigned myself to write -- a piece about Fashion Do's and Don'ts -- because he said it had the potential to be too judgmental.

(Apparently, you're supposed to be objective when writing an article unless its a column or editorial piece.)

My reaction:

Me? Judgmental? *Gasps in fake indignation* All I wanted to do was...advise my fellow sisters and brothers that certain items of dressing were...less pleasing to the eye.... For the betterment of the Ummah, you know?

Anyhoo, for Learn It I'm doing an article called "From D to Dean's List" -- basically some advice on how to go from zero to the ultimate dork of your department hero.

If that title sounds familiar, its based on a series of blog posts I wrote...and never completed beyond Part 1.

Anyways, here's a teaser of the article, just for fun!

From D to Dean's List
by Anisah Shurfa Mohammed Shukry

There it hangs: the coveted Dean’s List; a list of names of students who achieved a GPA of 3.5 and above for the previous semester.

Draped amid urgent announcements and posters warning you to cover your aurah, the Dean’s List elicits a variety of reactions from passersby.

 “Every time I see it, I feel inspired and think, God, I really want to be on that list,” shares Dyg Nurfaizeleen, a  4^th year student.

Yet, many students, especially those with a less-than-stellar CGPA, think getting Dean’s List is as impossible as winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

In actual truth, upgrading from D Lister to Dean’s Lister is possible – in fact, many have done it and lived to tell the tale.

Interested? Then ask yourself a few crucial questions, such as:

Am I in the right course?

In some cases, the problem is not you, but the course you’re in.

For Mohd Nazriq, it took two course changes and readmission with a clean slate before he finally settled on his dream course.

 “I’ve been maths-illiterate all my life, so, no, Engineering was never my first choice,” he confesses with a laugh. “But I decided to just stay in it and see what happens.”

What “happened” was unfortunately a dismissal letter mailed to him after he received dismal grades for his first semester at the Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS).

Now an English Language and Literature student with four Dean’s List certificates under his belt, Nazriq has never looked back – unless it is with regret that he hadn’t changed courses sooner.

So if you’re an Economics student who secretly desires to be a world renowned surgeon, or a Law student who would rather spout Qur’anic verses than Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, perhaps you might consider a change of major. 

/end of teaser

...to continue reading the article, you'll just have to wait until Issue 2 comes out! ;-)

(WARNING: NST might edit the article like mad once they get their hands on it, so there's the possibility the only similar thing about this and the published version of the article is my name on it D-:)

Yesterday, I also interviewed Dato' Hamidon, director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office (ICEO), for the second article of Learn It.

Yeah, I know, you're probably all, what Office?

I'd never heard of them, either, until the Director himself personally called Nazriq up for an interview.

So, three words for you guys:

Student. Exchange. Program.

HEEHEE I can't wait for Issue 2 to be published! Can you? *happy dance*

The Rector holding up the Torch... which just
happens to have her face on the front page.

GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT, ZAINAH ANWAR

Wow, just wow. Was I the only person reading one of Zainah Anwar’s insipid columns in today’s The Star while frothing at the mouth?

You know, for all the faults New Straits Times have, and the misgivings I had about working with a paper that was clearly controlled by the government, I can at least say this about NST: they never hired Zainah Anwar.

In her column today, entitled No hudud please, we’re Malaysians, Zainah Anwar proves once again that her fuel for her writings is a twisted understanding of religion rather than a solid background based on cold, hard facts.

You know, it’s okay to be ignorant about certain things, especially if it’s something as complicated as the Hudud law. But if you’re going to argue about something and get it published in a paper for the public to read, shouldn’t you, I don’t know...read up on it first? Or at least ask someone with a qualified background in hudud law?

(And no, asking someone from “Sisters in Islam” or, as my lecturer liked to call it, “Sisters Out Of Islam”, does not count.)

From the paragraph below alone, it’s clear that her idea of hudud is so sadly, pitifully narrow that it could make even a cold, cynical 22-year-old like me weep.

“...what do we get? An offer of the hudud law and its grim serving of chopped-off Muslim hands and feet, and stoning to death! What kind of future is that?” she writes.

Yep, focus on the shock factor. That’s all the hudud law is about. Mutilating Muslims.

Or “brutalising Muslims”, as she writes.

But no, it gets worse. Way worse. Bear with me, k?

She defends her lack of expertise in Islam, saying she has a right to voice out what she says despite her acknowledged ignorance because:

“...I can be flogged 80 lashes for qazaf (slanderous accusation) if I report I have been raped and am unable to produce four pious and Muslim males who witnessed the rape... and even if I could produce the four men, I would be torn apart wondering why four supposedly pious and just men watched me being raped.”

Facepalm.

Facepalm.

Facepalm.

(No, I will not let my anger get the better of me. I will not.

But I shall indulge in some keyboard bashing.

sahfddwqkeuqwbdsznxcbkue;qwieqpoejcalksd!!!**!@$!)

Its official, you guys: Zainah Anwar is so caught up in her unrighteous indignation that she has no time for such trivial matters as getting her facts right.

Zainah Anwar, I will say this to you v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y a-n-d c-l-e-a-r-l-y so that you need not humiliate yourself, your religion and other Muslims any further in your writings.

YOU ONLY NEED TO PRODUCE FOUR WITNESSES IF YOU ARE ACCUSING SOMEONE ELSE OF HAVING PREMARITAL/EXTRAMARITAL SEX.

You get me?

Let me repeat it again in case you still don’t get it.

ONLY. IF. YOU. ARE. ACCUSING. SOMEONE ELSE.

Of what, you say?

OF PREMARITAL/EXTRAMARITAL SEX.

NOT RAPE.

That’s right, gurl! If yo doin’ the accusin’, you goinna need yo four men!

On a more serious note, do you notice the beauty of hudud there? The fact that you have to come up with four extra witnesses means that you can't simply accuse others of having premarital/extramarital sex so easily. Even if you derive vindictive pleasure from seeing your enemies get stoned to death, it's not gonna happen unless you can rustle up four other witnesses.

This is why Hudud is more of a preventive law rather than anything else. The punishments are harsh to scare people away from flouting the law, not to brutalise people who knowingly committed a wrongdoing.

And while we're at it, why not criticize the current justice system? Wrongdoers go to prison, where they spend several years repenting for their sins and come out a new person.

In some alternative dimension, maybe. But we know for sure that the prison system is a failed system. Zimbardo's prison experiment, anyone? Look it up.

That's why Hudud law doesn't involve prisons at all -- instead, we punish the wrongdoer and let them mingle with civilised society again. Why? Because your personality is shaped by your social environment. Chuck a bad guy in a building full of other bad guys, and what do you expect will happen?

So, Zainah Anwar, do yourself a favour, read up on your religion (or ask the right people – here in UIA we have plenty of IRK lecturers who are more than happy to guide you) before being all indignant about its “injustice” and “brutality”.


(ok, random: I just went to NST’s site to confirm my statement at the beginning that they never hired Zainah Anwar as a writer. And you know what? While they’ve never hired her, they wrote about her. Turns out she founded Sisters in Islam. She founded it. Yes, it was she. Zainah Anwar.

NO FLIPPING WONDER)

(I’m also going to write a letter to the editor of the Star, once my emotions are sufficiently stable and I get all the facts and evidences I need from my brother-in-law and my IRK lects to lambast this women’s column to kingdom come. Pray for me)

(Also, I'd love to write more for this post, because there were so many things wrong in her column, but unlike Zainah Anwar, I'm going to do some more reading up (and asking around) first. That's why I only tackled one small part in her column.)

(Plus, if any of you guys have read her article and have some knowledge about hudud law, especially when it cames to rape, please do share)

(And: Go away potential Zainah-loving anonymous commenters. TQ)

ETA: Do read the comments section for a deeper understanding about the rape-as-sex misinterpretation in Hudud law! Oh, and thank you, anonymous #1 for providing me with the article that gave me a deeper understanding of Hudud misinterpretations :-D