Well said.

I have to agree with Jamerican Muslimah on this-anyone familiar with Mohja’s work-from her academic work to her poetry to her fiction-knows that she is the last one to give Muslims -and more specifically the sexism within many communities- a pass. She is often critical of a codified interpretation of the hijab as witnessed in her own practice of how she wears it and when she wears it.

Yet, I think there is space for the sweetness and joy that Mohja talks about and I feel that the call for “realism” that many of you are making to be both unfair and dare I say just as monolithic as your critique of Mohja’s ‘perceived” universalism.

The sweetness is there and it needs to be written. Mohja’s words writhe with humour and I think you have to read this article with a sense of her voice and the tone of spiritual freedom and tongue in cheek-ness that is her writing.

I have to say that after reading the article I allowed myself a much needed smile and feeling of strength in my own Muslimah body and in my own faith in Allah most high’s infinite mercy and wisdom.

Yes, the gender jihad must be fought but there is always time to reflect on the multiple blessings of SOME of our lives. If you cannot pass on to your daughter’s the sweetness they may forget what they are fighting for…

The balance between speaking highly of Islam while not glossing over the challenges that Muslim women encounter is a challenging one to find; avoiding and dismantling hierarchies doesn’t happen easily!

Sobia and Muse, your commentary was insightful and informative. Thank you!

I know what you’re saying. And I do agree that we have to address our problems. But I’m sure by now you have heard of the MCC here in Canada. Pointing out the problems with Muslims is ALL they do and their words and actions have been used by Islamophobes to criticize the whole Canadian Muslim community.

Although I agree that we need to point out our problems, and that is why I understand why the MCC does what it does and I understand their exasperation with so many Muslims’ complacency, I also hate seeing Islamophobes so easily using their words to paint us ALL as complacent. Just because someone isn’t out there speaking up against the crazies doesn’t mean they’re not doing something.

I’m saying that we NEED to find a fine balance between addressing/solving our problems and avoiding Islamophobic reactions.

And maybe I’m a bit pessimistic but I don’t have much faith in our community to be able to do that. We either get out there and bash us all, or we deny any problem exists. These are delicate times which need very delicate handling.

I wonder if there is any initiative we could start as the women of MMW – writers and readers.

I feel like damage control takes too much out of us, perhaps we should re-invest it else where.

I see your point about “sanitizing” or “dressing up” our situation, and I agree: the realities can’t be glossed over, and I disliked Kahf’s article because it did just that. But I think there is value in positive representations; we just shouldn’t have to hide our dirty laundry to present some.

This sort of reminds me about the article I wrote about “triple threats and double troubles“. It seems like Kahf’s article comes from this place of defensiveness and damage control (or she could genuinely believe that her article applies to most Muslim women in the world, but that’s a different story) that Muslims are constantly put it in the U.S.

“However, this particular article by Kahf was addressed to a non-Muslim audience. In which case we have to be extra careful of how we present ourselves.”

I understand it was addressed to a non-Muslim audience, but I read it, and you read it and it’s posted on a Muslim Women blog for other Muslim people to read it. This is in the MEDIA, everyone will reach it and be affected by it. Just like they see all the other Friday Posts of news relating to Muslim women and how depressing many of their plights are.

How should we be extra careful in how we present ourselves? I don’t understand why we have to present ourselves differently among different groups. There’s no need to paint a pretty picture, we should be truthful in all situations. This is why I agree with Fatemah when she says “But something about her discussion of marriage in Islam strikes me as dishonest.” It’s dishonest because this is not the reality, it’s “… all theoretical. The reality is far from woman-friendly, isn’t it? It’s dishonest because it’s hiding the whole truth (the reality of the situation). I don’t why Mohja neglect the reality of some situations, is it because she didn’t want to feed the Islamophobes? She opened this door about “MOST MUSLIM WOMEN”, grouping us all together although some of are realities are different. Perhaps it would have worked better if she spoke for herself or those she knows, instead of “most muslim women”. What is “most Muslim women” is it Muslim women in China, Egypt, or women in Saudi Arabia or North America? Muslim women aroung the world are not all the same, we don’t share all the same realities.

I think Mohja grouping all Muslim women to be monolithic is feeding the Islamphobes, if anything. Do you think by reporting “some” of the sad news about Muslim women creates fodder for the Islamophobes? In that case, should we hide the reality of some* of these issues? I think the Islamophobes will have something to say regardless if we hide issues or not. I think we should present the reality and solutions or steps being taken (and there are measures that are being taken to fight these problems). I feel like by not showing the reality of some situations, we are also ignoring or denying the hard working people trying to improve the situation.

For me her message was just not balance enough, and I believe she should give the same consideration of how she presents herself to you, or another Muslim sister, not just Non-Muslims.