Help me out here guys because if I'm honest I'm struggling with the case of Maria Hardman an American Muslim revert who explains in her own words why she understandably refuses to take her Hijab off for a picture in Jail.
Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to establish why Maria was required to take a jail picture. Apparently, it transpires that although only aged 19 she went to a party, had punch which contained alcohol and for good measure managed to crash her scooter on the way home when it was established the she was driving while under the influence.
I think a Muslim sisters civil right to retain her dignity and faith by maintaining she wears the Hijab is of paramount importance however, should we also take some responsibility by ensuring we don't allow ourselves to end up in compromising situations notwithstanding the young age of Maria?
** update**
Interesting view on Sister Maria at Lagniappe's Lair
Update on American Bedu
22 hours ago
It would have been much more meritorious if she observed one of the rules of Islam; that is to abstain from drinking aclchohol. It is considered a major sin that is by no means a lesser vice than taking off her hijab.
ReplyDeletebuild 'em up to knock them down eh?
ReplyDeleteWhy post the first video if then you go down to destroy her character in a follow up?
it often helps if before an individual comments they actually read and understand (the two are not the same) a post before asking predetermined questions.
ReplyDeleteTake a look again at the first sentence and what does it say, "I'm struggling with the case" which most readers I hope would interpret as me not having a finalised position on this. In addition, I also ask for others to " help me out" which again for objective readers is a request to ask for help in establishing my own view on the merits of a Muslim who crashed her scooter while under the influence because unlike others I don't have all the answers.
With regard to why post the first video with an entirely factual heading, the purpose was to allow readers like you to have the benefit of Sister Maria's explanation about why she did not take her hijab off an action I said and maintain I support and was of "paramount importance".
You are perfectly entitled to your opinion however, given the above I'm not sure how any reasonable interpretation can sum up my view as trying to "destroy her character" which seems to be an increasingly typical Muslim shoot the messenger approach.
What's wrong with a muslim who drinks? Sure it is against the religion, but at the end of the day, individuals choose to practise the religion as they wish. I know muslim men & women who drink and have sex who still consider themselves muslim. So sheesh, why the judgemental attitude? Religion is for the individual and not for public consumption.
ReplyDeleteI can see your dilemma. You want to defend her, but how can you when she tells so many lies? She drinks--frequently and heavily it seems, according to her own Facebook page. She was actually jailed for drinking and driving, with a 0.19 BAC which wipes out her claim that she was innocently given "one drink" that she didn't know had alcohol in it. (It would take at least ten drinks to get her to that level.) It appears that she only wants to be seen as a devout muslim when she's actually in trouble instead of obeying the tenets of islam to stay out of trouble.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you nice Londoners dont know about Boulder Colorado, US. It's a place where a very white civilization shows its not against any culture, religion, or race, or ethos. NO! We just take the parts of your religion, etc, and exploit them for our own gain under the oft misunderstood "Freedom of Speech" act.
ReplyDeleteIf she wants to be respected for her Muslim faith, thats fine. No one here is preventing that. But when you back up your "faith" with a Facebook page that (now blocked) shows you as a heavy drinker, a lover of parties and random guys, a person with a foul mouth - all against your "chosen" religion? Yeah. We fucking hate you for that.
She is a new Muslim. While drinking is forbidden or "haram", the first Muslims continued to drink for seven years or more before they were given instructions to throw it away. New Muslims do not have to hold themselves immediately to the standards of other Muslims but should endeavor to get towards that goal. Alcohol is forbidden because it has more harm in it than good. If she has done all the things you all say she has, at least she is hiding it now and recognizes the evil that it contains. Allah is merciful and forgiving and she is a new born lamb in the faith. You do not put the load you would put on a horse onto a new born lamb. Hopefully she will grow into it.
ReplyDeleteWe all have things that we struggle with in our respective faiths. If wearing hijab by Allah's grace is easy for her then why should she take it off? For one individual abstaining from alcohol may be easy while neglecting prayers and not even feel remorse for it. Alhamduliulah, her heart is awake so that she feels pain from her mistakes and can have the courage come forth to reveal her misdeeds so that we may take notice and learn from them as she has, inshallah. We should make excuses for our sister in deen and stand up for her. We should honor her sacrifice. If one part of this Ummah suffers, we all feel pain. Let us not forget the purpose for this deen; to transform an elevate the soul. Our beloved Prophet and all prophets have set that standard by Allahs grace so we remain in a state of taqwa and submission. If the whole world were to stop sinning Allah would could cause sin just so his slave may seek His mercy. Where is our mercy? We need to perfect our intention and take ourselves to account before we are called upon instead of focusing on the faults of others. And Allah knows best.
ReplyDeleteWhat utter hypocrisy? The PC nonsense is a joke, of course people can judge. It is in the public domain. Claims to wear this as a sign of keeping dignity & faith are a stretch too far. What next an Imam justifying breaking the major laws of Islam & saying "don't judge me?" To so publically declare a commitment to a set of divine principles & then to parade their rejection makes a mockery of them. Oh the old-fashioned ways of taking responsibility. Touchy-feely DIY Islam 2.0 from the RAND "Moderate Muslim" project, no thanks. Enabling & defending public mockery of Islamic laws is not cool.
ReplyDelete