WHY DID I DECIDE TO WEAR A HIJAB - PART 3

I havent been blogging for a long time ... tried to but failed!  Many times I got stories written all over my head, thinking that I would write soon after, but failed again. So, let me try again tonight and I promise to finish it off! Well, not tonight perhaps but I will continue writing until it is finished. So for those who are reading it and thought, why is this story sort of hanging, it means, I am still in the middle of writing it.

Never mind my grammar - who needs a perfect grammar when your head flows with words - well at least for now ! It has been nearly 20 months since I decided to don on a hijab! Whhaa at? 20 months?? really???
Oh wow, time passed without any warning. The wild child who donned a Hijab - who would have thought? My mom sort of gave up the ideas that I would ever wear a tudung. Well surprise,  Mak! God works mysteriously because I was surprised myself!

Almost right after I wore my first Hijab (I remember it was pink in color with some ornament hanging down  on both sides, I will remember not to give away my first Hijab, I should show it to my grandchildren the historic item) - Okayy dont mean to make a joke out of it but I am funny! really ! many people thought so! that is if  no one pissed me off ! (Okay my kitten Anakin is putting his face on the screen trying to get my attention  - now trying to walk on the keyboard))  That's what cats do - walk on keyboard. Why? because they can!

Ok right after II decided to wear hijab, I inherited Reach Out Malaysia (www.reachoutmy.wordpress.com) and Hijab N The City (https://www.facebook.com/HTC.BY.FEEXANICOLL) - I cant help but thinking that it was God way to pacify or maybe reward me for pleasing him . He knows  me so well, that if I were to be left alone, I would end up paying attention to some stupid reasons on why my Hijab was all over the place. But No! I became a Hijab Stylist and a Fashion Designer for Muslimah contemporary fashion.  me? I thought my hands are far too wild to be artistic but they are! wahoo !! ) Okay it is 1.02 am Malaysia time yawwwwn!!!  I am so sleepy and  I need to sleep and will continue this soon !

HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING ...,

A MUST WATCH! NUR ZAHRA INDONESIA - FASHION COLLECTION

I must say this whole collection is a double wow! I dont agree with anyone who opposed to being stylish and hijabed at the same time... my opinion is Why Not?

As a human being, we have evolved! As a moslem, we have evolved. As a person, we have evolved. We cant really change the essence of who we are as a whole just to suit other people's opinion or interpretation! Everything have to come naturally! Just because you do not agree on something, do you need to force everybody to agree with you or to be like you? Are you putting yourself at the same pedestal as God to judge everybody who go against your believe system? Poof to that !!











I came across some bitchy comments on hijab tutorials that were shown on YouTube on how some people (men and women) could be so nasty in forcing their views across and they ended up looking stupid and less dignified. What those people don't know is that, they could have done it better with kinder words and by being a good example! Which one is more sinful do you think - someone who speak rudely and harsh and his/her way of telling is by shaming the women to degradation and surrendering against her will or someone who is styling her hijab in ways that she feels happy with but not acceptable according to the standards being set up by the moral police? See the logic here?

And then there's this blog (unfortunately it is originated from my country) about 'how a woman shouldn't dress this way and that way while wearing a hijab, how their body parts were shown through the tight clothing etc, how they enticed the male species because their blouses or hijab were not long enough to cover their derrieres. Why did you look in the first place , sir/madam ,may I ask? While I may agree to some of their allegations, what is their business to create a blog and followers based on these subjects? Sadly, because it was based on religious issues, some men decided to join in the crowd and added more insults. This is just to show how horrendous religion has been used as their rights to shame and to humiliate. Islam does not teach that and even if you need to do it, speak with kindness and/or respect and that particular person then have to walk the talk! Having a foul mouth was not one of Rasullullah (SAW) characteristics from what I have been taught when I was 7 years old!!

My argument is this, shouldn't it be fair if attention is to be given in setting up a blog on 'Why men shouldn't abuse women because he has too many wives and children to take care of?' or 'Stricter law on men who left children behind because he is after a new wife?' or 'investigation of bribery in big projects' where some officers were known to ask for girls as their bedroom companion/s and under-table money in order to approve whatever projects they may have. Create a blog to stop people from gossiping about others (to lessen their sins!) (well, never happen) Now, hold on! I didn't accuse anybody here other than this is just a fine example of hypothetically speaking subjects ...

Err..so where was I just now? Ah yes! fashionable hijabs! Let just say, my decision on wearing a hijab some few months ago were based on my love for God and the respect I have for some men who have proven to me that there are still (though about to extinct) many men who are respectable, knowledgeable, kind, loyal and protective and still respect women as a whole and not threatened by their intelligence in any way.

How many men out there who forced hijabs on their wives but at the very same time look at other women (who are not covered and even having affairs with them?) Now, what I have been taught when I was seven, sin is equaled between a man and a woman. That sins are still counted as sin and not lessen because you are not a woman. I am not against men! Oh no, not at all! A woman is more often to be the one who destroy another woman, generally. So there !

Okay, let's go back to how wonderful is the NurZahra Indonesia's fashion Collections are !!

THE ART OF BLOGGING - Is there?

I am a new blogger. I am an accidental blogger. I am a confused blogger. I am a slow blogger.

I am all of the above... But hey I am a blogger! Can you believe it?? I still couldn't believe it because I couldn't stay still for a long time and I hate computers, laptops, whatever ... they are troublesome, technical and I thought oh so difficult to learn! ( I am not ancient okay!so please do not assume! I am just a woman who occasionally enjoy being floozy as to get things done for me and the furthest I would go on technicality is to use my galvanic spa to keep me looking like a 28 years old for another 10 years!)

So how in the world did I start to blog?

My house was robbed in the beginning of May..and the thieves took away my small laptop among other things. 2 weeks prior to that, I did a whole load of backing up of my files onto that small laptop. Every memories that I kept there was gone with the laptop. Just like the wind. My files, my work, my presentations, my photos, everything was gone!! I was cool at first, answering questions from the police etc. Alhamdullillah my family was safe! Towards the end of the day, I started to cry.. I felt violated in my own house . (My husband Peter said I got the 'after effect syndrome' - he used to work as a Police Officer in Hong Kong so I supposed he knew better!).

I became a bit out of balanced after that incident and I got sick. (flu, sore throat, the works!) To make matters worst I lost my voice completely! Yup that's right, nothing came out from my throat not even oohh or ahh ... I was hoping God wont take it completely for some reasons or could it be he wanted me to know how a dumb person really feels without a voice so I would appreciate my voice better rather than wishing it sounded more like any kids from Glee ... I couldn't speak so I couldn't do anything, I took off from teaching yoga and all my other businesses. I couldn't answer the phone too. What could be worst?

That was how i ended up blogging! I observed the other bloggers, how some of them have so many followers, booming businesses, this and that. Hey maybe I could do that! So if I lost my voice I can do my business through blogging, perhaps?? So my first article came out but nobody followed me ...not good! Time to force my husband and my daughters to follow me so as not to look unpopular! Sent invitations to FB friends - only 10 followed! Okay, let's resend ...hmmm still nothing! Ok got the hint!!

Naomi and Innaz - my blog followers



Eventually, thanks to my other fellow bloggers from all over the world who have been following me and do not make me feel so lonely. (Thank you! thank you! thank you!) Some of the unexpected genuine encouragements from some new found friends on how much they enjoyed my blog. Few friends who took time to vote and drop a nice note or two and comments! It was so lovely, really!

On second thoughts, maybe I am 10 years too late to hype something new (Did I say 10 years? I mean 2 years! ) Looks like there will not be another Hana Tajima Simpson or another hijab shawl blogger which has a thousand buyers! Maybe I could treat this blog as a hobby and who knows one day I may create something. What I do know, I have managed to touch some souls! That should be good enough.

Well, Hijab n the city is a glimpse to my soul especially for those friends, who share the same birth year as me but whom I have not spoken or seen for a long time! Don't we all changed? Assumptions are not the truth. For those who think I was still a timid unpopular little girl in school and would not amount to anything. Well guess what? wrong again!! Wish we could know each other better but not!

Boarding school could screw up anybody's head, I guess! (Boy! am I getting into trouble for this?) But what I taught my young students and my daughters, being a bully, would scar you in later life... If you pride yourself as being beautiful and stubbed your thumb to others in school, remember that you may not be able to retain your looks too long... Straight A's do not mean you are the best! Different individual are not weird, they are just different.... That was me in school - different! Believe me, it is true! For my dear friends who stick with me through thick and thin ... I love you guys (even if you murder somebody, I will still love you and visit you in death row)

I got my voice back eventually and start work:( I realized too that as a human being, simple things like being able to see, touch, talk, walk, hear and taste are the greatest gifts and assets one could have! These have been given by Allah in his mercy for us all to use and to be the best we can be .

WELL I HAVE A BLOG NOW AND THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS !! YEAY!!

Peter (another blog follower) and me ...

a Journey (short clip) by Inarovi - Stumble upon this video and I thought how cool! There is a whole world of hijabers out there who do and love many things! We do not have to change who we are just because we wear hijabs likewise we do not have to be extremists either. The more friendlier approach to hijab will attract more people to wear in a manner of one's preference and style. This video seems to speak for itself of my journey too! Enjoy!

Hijabers Community Highlight

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO WEAR HIJAB??

Many people asked why I decided to wear a hijab. My immediate instinct would be to answer "WHY NOT?"  Well I suppose I don't blame them for wanting to know .... It was barely two months since I made that decision,   so naturally, people who haven't  seen me with a hijab would be intrigued to ask the reasons behind it, I supposed.

I am known to be strong headed in anything I  want to do or achieve. I believe fiercely that in whatever  we decided to do it has to be done wholeheartedly and with a full understanding on why we do the things we do. Over the years I watched many people around me put the  hijab on their head because they are forced to do so and in their resentment judged others who don't !  There are also some who put hijab on and off again when some situations occurred.. There are also some extremists who emphasized on women to wear hijab but turned blind on men who neglected their wives and children when they marry another woman (or having affair, for that matter).

Quran has been interpreted as and how they liked by men! So much so , values have been lost along the way and it saddens  me to see and  witness.... So why so much confusion on hijab then?  To me and I am sure to many muslim women, it is more than a piece of cloth. It is a symbol of wisdom and understanding. It is an acceptance of who you are as a woman and by that knowledge and alongside it, kindness and compassion should be in sync.  This can be achieved even without wearing a hijab. I have seen how cruel some women can be in judging others and hide behind their hijabs for their wrongs! By the way, we have the rights to our own opinions so I do not expect any arguments on this! Not that I care anyway!

I loved my long brown flowy hair. No one has ever seen it out of place. I took pride in my appearance. I have been trained in a girls select finishing school. I have lived my life as an air stewardess with an international airline. I have been a fashion model (err.. not a supermodel at that because I am not that tall!). I have been a TV Host and have my own TV show in Yoga. I have seen beautiful things and places!  At the same time I have gone through the ups and downs in life. In and out of sadness and happiness.  Through all those there is  one consistent thing in my life which is God! Allah is what I perceived  to be despite what other people say! Allah who is forgiving and merciful. The two qualities which are so hard to find in men  (or women)!

I found Allah  quite sometime ago .  On  the day that I decided to wear hijab one night , I was washed with an emotion that I couldnt describe. Allah in his glory has whispered to me that I no longer have anything to prove and I have been respected by many as my own woman.  Even without the peace of cloth on my head!  I wear hijab purely for Allah and for all the gifts he has bestowed upon me. For Allah has given me a wonderful husband who has always fought for justice and will always be.  A man who will protect me and my children and keep me safe. Insyaallah, I will do my best to be the gift to mankind by making the world a better place to live.

So I sacrificed my long brown flowy hair finally!  I have always been a fashionista and will always be. God created all the beautiful things in the world and who have the right to say that beautiful things are evil like some idiotic campaigns! Sins are equaled between men and women.  An eye for an eye!

So ya! Those were my reasons for wearing hijab!  From a club in Acapulco to the Kaabah In Mecca, I have turned 360 degrees to do my sujud.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

I am a Yoga Teacher . At least that  is the first thing I would like to be known from all the things that I am ... When I teach yoga, i flow without much effort ...It is like as if I was born to do it...I could do lotus pose even when I was only 7! Do i believe in being reborn?  (Never brave enough to find the answer)...

I recently converted to wearing hijab . No one forced me! (surprise ! surprise! who could anyway)...
One day I heard God's voice whispering to me that I no longer have anything to prove. I have proven it all! To everybody that matters! So from my long flowy brown hair to a long flowy hijab .... for I am still the same person and THIS IS MY STORY.