Comments on: The Muslim Women of Hip Hop

By: The Invisible Muslimah « Muslimnista

The Invisible Muslimah « Muslimnista — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:44:06 +0000

[...] press. Additionally, there has been more focus on African American Muslimahs in the entertainment industry as well. So things have been getting better. However, there needs to be more coverage of African [...]

By: The Invisible Muslimah « Muslimah Media Watch

The Invisible Muslimah « Muslimah Media Watch — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:05:10 +0000

By: svendster

svendster — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:58:00 +0000

SalaamsVery interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing. I like Eve’s humility about her spiritual struggles, it makes her far more interesting and compelling.

By: Yasmine

Yasmine — Sun, 25 May 2008 06:54:00 +0000

What? Erykah Badu a muslim? Oh man.. that is cool.. I love her.. just absolutley love that girlie.. anyhow I agree with forsoothsayer to some extent. If one submits to Allah (swt) then they are muslims. Being a muslim does not signfy that one has to be a good muslim because we all know its not easy and as long as we strive to submit we are identified as muslim.lol @ Zeyna.. great points but I believe he also had some good points about the media potraying liberated muslims those who do not cover… thats a shame..

By: Zeynab

Zeynab — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:13:00 +0000

Umm Hussain, I take issue with a few of your statements. “The Five Percenters more than likely do not pray to Allah, fast or give zakah or probably know how to do so properly.” Frankly, I’d never heard of the Five Percenters until this post. Do you have a thorough knowledge of the Nation of Islam, its offshoots, and their tenets and practices? If you do, then feel free to share them with us. “It is so offensive to me when writers and the media rush to present women who do not cover or appear in any way to follow the basic tenets of Islam as an example that Muslim women can be modern, free, and independent. So often, the examples are frumpy middle- to upper-class Cacusasian women who have married a foreign-born Muslim and presented as if they have done something wonderful or remarkable, or in this case, half-dressed entertainers.”Well, you’ve just insulted Muslim women who don’t wear hejab and white reverts: not cool. There is no possible way you can judge those who “do not cover” by what they’re wearing; Islam is INSIDE a person, not ON them. Secondly, calling white reverts frumpy is unacceptable (and your own opinion). Please keep this to yourself. I understand that you may be vexed about media coverage of Muslim women (aren’t we all?), but that’s no reason to take it out on white reverts. It’s best to speak up in positive ways that don’t backbite your own sisters (whatever race they may be).Please make sure to take a look at our comment policy next time; these kind of statements are not acceptable here.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:01:00 +0000

First and foremost, the five percenters are not Muslim. Embracing a part of a culture or certain aspects of a faith does not make you an adherent of that faith. A Muslim is one who acknowledges that Allah is the Creator of all the worlds, that Muhammad is the last Prophet and that the Quran is the final divine revelation. There are other obligations (prayer, fasting, giving charity, making hajj) but the above (faith/iman) is the minimal requirement for someone to claim to be Muslim. The Five Percenters more than likely do not pray to Allah, fast or give zakah or probably know how to do so properly. All my life, I have advocated that Islam practiced in its true form respects, honors and protects women, and spoken honestly that it is generally not done so throughout the world. It is so offensive to me when writers and the media rush to present women who do not cover or appear in any way to follow the basic tenets of Islam as an example that Muslim women can be modern, free, and independent. So often, the examples are frumpy middle- to upper-class Cacusasian women who have married a foreign-born Muslim and presented as if they have done something wonderful or remarkable, or in this case, half-dressed entertainers. Umm HussainHillside, NJ – Writer- Henna Artist- Textile Artist- Legal Assistant- Administrator, Dar-ul Khalil Arabic Institute- Former Minister of Information, Masjid Deenulah, Newark, NJ- Original Member, Muslim Organization Committee (First Unified Eid in Newark, NJ 1978)

By: ~Aishah Schwartz

~Aishah Schwartz — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:12:00 +0000

Nicely written! I started a project dedicated to highlighting Muslim women, it’s here: http://mwawomenmakinghistory.blogspot.com

By: Duniya

Duniya — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:35:00 +0000

anonymous:That’s why I loved this article. It defied our OWN stereotypes of Muslim women – because we, as Muslim women, have them as well. And like you, all I have to do is look in the mirror to defy stereotypes. Great point!forsoothsayer:I concur with zeynab. Though it’s not just non-arab but also a non-Muslim-country-living person’s use of the word implies Islam. A society in which Muslims are a minority the term is almost exclusively associated with Muslims. For instance, in Pakistan, a country predominantlyMuslim, many Christians do use the Allah, but in India next door, you’d be hard pressed to find a Christian saying Allah.

By: Zeynab

Zeynab — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:49:00 +0000

Forsoothsayer, you’re right that Christians and Muslims alike use the term “Allah.” But a non-Arab’s use of the word “Allah” strongly implies subscription to Islam.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:38:00 +0000

I absolutely agree with coolred’s comment. Yeah, that internalized “ideal Muslimah” is a long-lasting lens through which to see all other Muslim women through indeed. Although if I want to see a totally non-standard Muslim woman, all I have to do is to look in the mirror, I still get surprised by other stereotypes-busting Muslim women–Muslim women in hip hop, who’da thought? This is why I really enjoy reading this blog.