I would love to hear what MMW readers think of this issue’s content and any suggestions for the future.

There are so many things I want to say, comment on, reflect on, so you will be seeing me around insha Allah!

JazakAllahu khairan for making me feel so welcome

Wasalaam
N.

Either way, thanks for your comments here. Please feel welcome to give us your opinions any time, and we wish you success with Sisters and your other endeavors. Be sure to let us know when Sisters’ next issue is out!

Thanks for your response. Regarding the cover, there were those who felt that the image of a man with his arm around a hijab-wearing woman was too suggestive, too much like open displays of affection, too much like non-Muslims, etc. One single sister even said she felt a bit ‘hot’ when looking at the cover and that made her feel bad and doubtful about the cover’s propriety.

Others felt that the image was too secular, too modern, not ‘Islamic’ enough – the guy’s beard wasn’t long enough, his hairstyle too trendy

Others questioned the use of an image of animate objects per se, regardless of the fact that no features were shown.

I know that is asking for a lot of unpacking, but there you have it!

Like I said, a completely different climate over here. Although, having said that, there were those who loved the cover, found it fresh and funky, cute and a nice evocation of Muslim love.
So it takes all sorts…

Wasalaam
N

I’m sorry that the threat got bogged down in comments that didn’t have anything to do with the magazine, but we appreciate your viewpoint.

I’d be interested to hear about the types of complaints that you received about the cover, too.

Why, oh, why does poor Na’ima B. Robert keep getting attacked on this site? First it was the magazine and then my Times article – what’s next? Seriously, you sisters should give this niqabi rebel a break! lol

For real though, I have enjoyed reading the comments on this site and, although I may disagree with some of them, I respect your right to make them. I guess SISTERS is meant to inspire us to better ourselves – in every way possible – and that means the editorial staff first and foremost, then our readers. And our definition of ‘better’ is taken from our understanding of the Qur’an and Sunnah (which not everyone will share, granted). We are all on a journey and none of us have reached its end. But it is quite interesting to note that, among our readers, we have those for whom Islam is their entire compass in life, and those who are quite ‘secular’ by comparison (have to be careful with my wording here!). We have niqabis (of which I admit I am one!), full hijabis, hijabi fashionistas and non-hijab wearers, stay-at-home moms and working girls, born Muslims and reverts. I have always hoped that each issue would have a little something to appeal to everyone – even if not every article fits your lifestyle or viewpoint!

BUt just another point to add here: I find that, very often, if a sister wears a niqab, certain assumptions are made about her: her opinions, her tastes, her lifestyle. And I hate that! This is something i alluded to in my book and is something as prevalent in the Muslim community as the wider society. So what, I can’t wear a niqab and be into kickboxing, read Descartes and Steinbeck, Hossein and Aboulela? I can’t have a degree, run my own business, speak three languages and drive a 4×4? Where did we as Muslims get this idea of the homogenous, one-dimensional cookie cutter Muslim woman from? Please don’t assume anything about me just because I wear a niqab, I get enough of that on the street!
Anyway, I digress. I guess the challenge for us as a ‘religious’ magazine is how to present our lived reality in an Islamically appropriate way, in a way that is an acknowledgement but not necessarily an endorsement. Issues like porn, alcohol or drug addiction in the Muslim community, spousal abuse, sexual problems, even breast cancer, subhanAllah! Because we are viewed as the more spiritual or religious alternative to other Muslim magazines, the standard is set high for us. You don’t know how many comments/ complaints we had about the cover image you featured on this page!
What I am saying is this: we operate in a very narrow space because of who we are, how we are perceived and the image our readers have of us. The British Muslim population is far more conservative than the American one – stuff you may be able to get away with there, we will be castigated for over here.

But you know what, at the end of the day, my viewpoint is this: if it is ok with Allah, we will do it. And that ‘ok’ comes from an Islamic knowledge-based approach, not my own opinion or reading of the situation.

I do feel that it is a shame that you chose to post the article on the Muslim weddings – I think you will admit that it is not actually representative of the style or content of the magazine. If you are curious about the types of articles we cover, please visit the website (www.sisters-magazine.com) and read for yourself.
I really don’t think that we deserve the title of the magazine industry’s version of the burqa!

Affectionately yours wasalaam
N.

why judge the ‘music comment’ of the wedding? maybe the writer wasnt implying that music is haraam, but rather the specific context was haraam.. i.e. men and women together with loud music… creating a halal- challenged atmophere.

i think we need to be wary of going off on tangents based on our thoughts and the angst that stirs in our nafs.

society is one thing and truth is another thing. if u want to b*tch and moan about society, by all means, do so. but if u want to discuss religion.. i think we need to take special care because we may unwittingly be severely erring by making statements about things that we are clearly not qualified to talk about.

i must say that some comments here come across as being very defensive. very arrogant. and very judgemental in attacking ‘judgementalness’.

yes, there are very few things that are black and white haraam… but we need the knowledge and wisdom to be able to make ijtihaad about grey areas.

may God forgive us for our ignorance and our transgressions and guide us to Truth.. and use our dialogue and communication here as a means of growth and attaining closeness to Him.. not merely a stage to rant and rave for the hell of it.

Salam and forgive me if i have offended anyone.

[This comment has been moderated to fit within moderation guidelines.]

If you’re not posting about the magazine, don’t bother.

Sobia is promoting EQUALITY of all human beings. As Islam teaches us, we must show Love and Compassion to all people around us, regardless if their beliefs conflict with ours. Just because someone is different than you doesn’t mean that you cannot treat them as an Equal.

Also, you’re marginalizing against the homosexual Muslims, as if they represent some sort of “shame” in our community. They are humans too, they believe in God too, they deserve to be heard, and they deserve to share their experiences.

You can NEVER deny someone’s beliefs by simply observing them from the outside. God can see the Heart and the Soul — NO HUMAN BEING can do that.

Excluding certain people out of our community does NOT help at all. It causes a lot of pain and hurt, and much of that pain is not seen because we are so absorbed in how WE want things to be. What happened to wanting for your brother/sister what you want for yourself? What happened to not going to sleep without knowing your neighbor is full? What happened to accepting that no one else can judge a person except for God?

Sorry Fatemeh, I just couldn’t help myself.