How far would you go to fit in?

A Muslim woman is, these days, seen in many dresses. The social media and exposure to
cultural diversity gives women ideas and access to clothing that is not acceptable to be worn
and worse yet, flaunted in. The vices of wearing such clothing (in public without an outer
covering) are many and the most important of which is disobeying Allah's command.

Some women may argue about the modern times or geographical location or climate or
occasion or event etc. But the general rule of covering everything except the face and hands
remains. The rules of a proper modest dress are well known and crystal clear. No tightness,
no transparency and full coverage, plus an outer cover should be worn outside the home.
These simple clear rules are not understood rather debated on. Tight jeans are becoming
the norm, hair is being displayed, all dyed and styled, perfume is being worn, and ankles
are exposed. How can a woman's conscience allow that? Her conscience is either
uneducated or weak enough to get suppressed under vile shameful desires. All that done in
public in an environment with no segregation between the genders! Woe to the west to
introduce the concept of friendship between opposite genders. I plead all Muslim women to
refrain from such a harmful thing. There are very clear guidelines in Islam about
communication between opposite genders and there is no such thing like hanging out
together! No such thing I repeat. Save yourselves from the evils of this world and the
punishment in the hereafter.

The dress code for women in Islam is simply to honor and protect us. We cover in public
(outside our homes) to identify ourselves as Muslim women and thereby send a clear signal
of being modest and upright and righteous. The outside world is supposed to recognize that
woman as someone to be respected and to be distant and courteous with. That was the
general rule in the times of the revelation of the verse that those covered women are to be
identified as Muslims and thus not to be bothered in any way. Women might argue that the
chances of a woman whether covered on not getting into trouble are the same. However,
think again.

These days we are at the mercy of the media. This is the era of addictive serials and the
adoption of western attitudes to appear cooler and to have the feeling of enjoying life to its
full. Little is the realization of the cost of these temporary pleasures. There is no one to stop
it? Not even their parents? Surely we are doomed. Its spreading like an epidemic. The
antidotes are there but they have become immune to it. Alas!

There is however, a ray of hope. They can be cured by themselves only. The antidote is
REALIZATION. But when will it reach them? When they get hurt because of the
consequences of their lifestyle or the choices they made? Or even worse, when its too late
to even repent or undo the damage?

This is a wakeup call to those who are slowly forgetting what it means to be a Muslim
woman and what it means for a Muslim woman to uphold her dignity. For those who still
cant make any sense out of what has been spoken I plead you to open the Quran and read
and explore and contest my opinion.

Here is a litmus test for you. If after reading all this way you have not had a guilty feeling in
your heart or a slight argument in your mind then I congratulate you. If however you have
had arguments against my words then please please open the Quran and read it from end
to end. For once in your life go through this journey and connect with Allah and ask him.
Ask your Lord if you are right. Let Him guide you.

The answer to the initial question remains to be answered by you... How far would you go to
fit in? Do not fall into the trap of slow poisoning. It will devour you. It can change your
appearance; it can change your religion. Ask yourself who you should be trying to please?

Now you might say who am I to say all of this to you? Some scholar? No indeed. This is only
my two cents worth of effort in order to fulfill Allah's commandment of enjoining good and
forbidding evil.

I will end in a dua that may Allah save my sisters in distress and may realization reach them
sooner and may we be among Allah's favorites InshaAllah. Ameen.