This is an excerpt from a conversation with one particular Muslim sister, but it could be a conversation with any of the numerous Muslim sisters who think along similar lines.
We need a moment of truthfulness, not with ourselves, but with Allah The Almighty, Who is the Provider, Creator, The One Who created us and perfected our form, Who knows all our apparent and concealed affairs and is acquainted with what we hide and what we declare.
Recall this reality my Muslim sister while answering these questions and avoid being consumed by curiosity or hastiness while reading through the questions; rather, answer them one by one, and make sure that you do not go on to the next question until the previous one has been answered:
· Who is your Lord?
My Lord is Allah The Almighty who has no partners.
· Who is your Creator?
He Is my Lord, and there is none truly worthy of worship but He.
· Who has the right to legislate and command?
Allah The Almighty, as He Says (what means): {Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command} [Quran 7:54]
· Do you observe fasting during Ramadan?
Yes, absolutely. Every Muslim fasts during this month for the sake of Allah The Almighty.
· Why do you fast?
Because Allah The Almighty commanded Muslim men and women to do so. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous }[Quran 2:183]
Does Allah The Almighty Have the right to oblige fasting upon us?
Undoubtedly! Whoever doubts this is a disbeliever. Have I not told you that Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, The Lord of the worlds.}[Quran 7:54]
The creation belongs to Allah The Exalted and He is The Owner of Sovereignty, thus, He has the right to command His slaves with whatever He wills without any argument, alteration or objection to His commands. The Creator is the Only One who has the right to legislate without any partner as he is The Sole Creator.
· Do you think that I have the choice to refuse or accept the commands of Allah The Exalted?
This matter is not based on choice. Who am I to choose? I am only one of His creatures, who lives in His Sovereignty and enjoys His Blessings.
· Does this mean that you observe prayer?
She stuttered, and said, "Sometimes!"
· Let me ask another question, do I have the right to choose what I like and reject what I do not like? Do you believe that Allah The Almighty legislated these matters for us to evaluate them in our minds, and then for us to accept what we want and reject what we do not want? Do we have this right?
She remained silent.
· Do you not know that Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.}[Quran 2:85]
· Why do you not wear Hijab (Islamic covering)? Do you not know that Allah The Exalted commands women to wear the Hijab? Have you not read the Quran? Have you not read Soorat An-Noor? Have you not read Soorat Al-Ahzaab?
Will you say the same as what some people say, “When I am convinced”!
With what do you want to be convinced? Do you want to be convinced that Allah The Almighty has the right to command you? Do you want to be convinced that Allah The Almighty has the right to oblige us to wear certain kinds of clothing?
Or, do you have the right to opine whether this matter is convenient for you or not? Whether people like these clothes or not?
My Muslim sister!
What comes to your mind when you stand in front of the mirror wearing clothes that you certainly know are tempting, which attract people’s attention, allure those with diseased hearts and attract people’s eyes to you and your body?
Do you think that when Allah The Almighty legislated wearing the Hijab He legislated this matter to let people form their own opinions regarding it? No doubt that you wear such clothes and stand in front of the mirror to adorn yourself so that people will like your appearance. Do you not feel ashamed? Do you not remember Allah The Almighty at that moment?
My Muslim sister!
You please people by displeasing Allah The Exalted! Do you stop to consider who is more worthy of pleasing?
Have you not heard the verse of the Quran in which Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {They swear by Allah to you [Muslims] to satisfy you. But Allah and His Messenger are more worthy for them to satisfy, if they should be believers. Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger -- that for him is the fire of Hell, wherein he will abide eternally? That is the great disgrace.} [Quran 9:62-63]
After all that, will you still insist on your stance?
At this, the Muslim woman might retort: Do you not see that I am a Muslim? Is it not enough for you to remind me about Allah The Almighty in order for me to take heed?
Do you believe that I never feel humbly submissive to Allah The Almighty? Do you see me rejecting the commands of Allah The Almighty?
My Muslim sister!
Return to your Lord, to your God, to your Creator, Who has the right to command and legislate.
Endeavor to please Allah The Almighty even if you do not please people.
Allah The Almighty wants to cover and protect you, but they [the enemies of Islam] want to expose you.
Allah The Almighty wants us to be obedient, but people only want us to be disobedient.
Allah The Almighty invites us to Paradise, but the Devil invites us to Hell.
Allah The Almighty invites to the Home of Peace and guides whom He wills to a straight path.
My dear Muslim sister!
Supplicate Allah The Almighty to open your heart to Islam, for the religion of Allah, His Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) and the Sunnah (tradition) of His Messenger, . Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
· {So is one whose breast Allah has expanded to [accept] Islam and he is upon a light from his Lord [like one whose heart rejects it]? Then woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. Those are in manifest error.}[Quran 39:22]
· {It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.}[Quran 33:36]