Deen Talk! LGBT+ in Islam: Evidences and Resources

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Assalaamu alaikum w rahmatullahi w barakatu. This post is designed to go with my new Deen Talk! miniseries on LGBT+ people and Islam. This provides ahadith, ayat, and other sources as well as resources in order to learn more about the permissibility of being LGBT+ in Islam. I understand that the majority of traditional scholars believe that acting upon homosexual or “alternative gender” feelings is haraam. My position is that I believe, due to my personal research and understanding of suppressed ahadith, that it is, in fact, permissible. Allah ta’ala created us using His wisdom and He does not make mistakes. This includes with giving us our inborn feelings of who we are, be it sexual orientation or gender identity. I respect those who have other opinions than my own and ask everyone to do the same for me. Jazakum Allahu kheiran.

LGBT+ in Islam

To begin I would like to suggest people read the book Queer Jihad, available on kindle ($3) and in paper form ($15) via Amazon. It’s a collection of interviews of Queer Muslims, both scholar and layperson, and gives a full spectrum overview of the many different ways people understand what it is to be both Queer and Muslim. It has a lot of resources though may be slightly outdated on some (such as support groups) due to when it was written. 

Daleel/Primary Islamic sources: 

On Mukhannathun (re: gay men or trans women) viewing women without hijab: 

Umm Salama related the Prophet cake to her while there was an effeminate man (mukhannath) sitting with her. She heard the mukhannath saying to Abd’Allah ibn Abu Umaya that if he succeeded the next day in conquering Ta’if then he should take the daughter of Ghaylan in marriage because [she was so beautiful and fat] she has four folds of flesh when facing front and eight when she turns her back. The Prophet then said “These men should never visit you.” That mukhannath was called Hit. (SB v5 p428 n613; SB v7 p118 n162; SM v3B p445 n2181; SM v3B p445 n2180; IM v2u p41 n57)

Narrated Aisha, Unmul Mu’minin: A mukhannath used to enter upon the wives of the Prophet. They (the people) counted him among those who were free of physical needs. One day the Prophet entered upon us when he was with one of his wives, and was describing the qualities of a woman, saying: When she comes forward, she comes forward with four (folds in her stomach), and when she goes backward, she goes backward with eight (folds in her stomach). The Prophet said: Do I not see that this mukhannath knows what here lies. Then they (the wives) observed veil from him. (Sunan Abu-Dawud, book 32, number 4095)

Understanding from this Hadith shows permissibility in being around trans women, and possibly even gay men, without hijab, barring them describing what they see of women to other men for their pleasure. Possible understanding also bars them seeing a woman without hijab if they seem to have any attraction to women. But either way, mukhannath were allowed to mix freely with women in the home, either with or without hijab, depending on behavior. 

On emancipated slaves:

Umm Salama related Rasulullah said “when a slave of it be of you women has made an agreement to purchase his freedom and can pay the full price, you must wear the modest dress hijab when with him.” (T [MMR v1 p725], AD v3 p1101 n3917, IM [MMR v1]) 

Male slaves of the wives of the Prophet, radhi’Allahu 3nhun, were generally mukhannathun because they were understood not to have attraction to women. Again, this shows that mukhannathun were allowed to see women without hijab. 

Quran on Mukhannathun and if they can see the aurat of a woman: 

Surah 24 vs 31 specifically lists “ghair uli al-irbat min al-rijal” (men with no desire toward women) as allowed to see the aurat of a woman. As shown in the above Hadith, the Sahabah, radhi’Allahu 3nhum, and the Prophet, salla Allahu alaihi w salaam, counted mukhannathun in this group until they showed otherwise, in which case women wore hijab around that specific person. 

On Mukhannathun and prayer: 

Narrated ‘Ubaid-Ullah bin Adi bin Khiyar: I went to ‘Uthman bin Afghan while he was besieged, and said to him “you are the chief of all Muslims in general and you see what has befallen you. We are led in the Salat (prayer) by a leader of Al-Fitan (trials, afflictions, etc.) was we are afraid of being sinful in following him.” ‘Uthman said “as-Salat is the best of all deeds so when the people do good deeds to the same with them and when they do bad deeds, avoid those bad deeds.” Az-Zuhri said, “In our opinion one should not offer Salat begins an effeminate person unless there is no alternative.” (SB 695; v.1 b.11 n. 663)

From this we get the ruling that Mukhannathun should pray behind the men. 

Punishment for accusing someone of being Mukhannathun (rudely or erroneously): 

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: That the Prophet said “if a man says to another man: ‘O you Jew’ then beat him twenty times. If he says ‘O you effeminate’ then beat him twenty times. And whoever has relations with someone that is a Mahram then kill him.” (T 1462; v3 b15 n1462) 

Here we see that Mukhannathun were known and understood in society and to accuse someone of being one (ie looking down upon Mukhannathun) was prohibited. 

Secondary Islamic sources (eg books/papers written by other scholars): 

Moreover, and besides the existence of transsexuals during the time of the Prophet[22], like Everett Rowson writes: “there is considerable evidence for the existence of a form of publicly recognized and institutionalized effeminacy or transvestism among males in pre-Islamic and early Islamic Arabian society. Unlike other men, these effeminates or mukhannathun were permitted to associate freely with women, on the assumption that they had no sexual interest in them, and often acted as marriage brokers, or, less legitimately, as go-betweens” (1991: 671). [From Abdou on Sally]

Al-Azhar on what a “true hermaphrodite” is and how to determine this (he is drawing info from Sunnah): 

A natural hermaphrodite is one described as with ‘two naturally sexual, male and female, organs and whom was to be characterized by the sexual organ from which s-he urinates most’. Where ‘there are equal quantities of urination there is ambiguity,’ Al-Azhar states. One ought ‘wait until the hermaphrodite attains puberty and then look for the appearance of some feature of masculinity, but if none of these characteristics appears, facial hair, gets pregnant, gives milk, or if, on the contrary, they appear, but in a contradictory way, there is a fundamental ambiguity, and one is dealing with a true hermaphrodite’ (1985: 41). [From Abdou on Sally]

Ibn 'Abd al-Barr stated that mukhannathun in his era were "known to be promiscuous", and resembled women in "softness, speech, appearance, accent and thinking". These mukhannathun were the ones initially allowed to be the servants of women, as they did not demonstrate any physical attraction to the female body. (al-Maqdīsī, Ibn Qudamah. Al-Mughni wa al-Sharh al Kabeer. pp. 7/463.)

The most severe instance of persecution is typically dated to the time of al-Walid's brother and successor Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik. According to several variants of this story, the caliph ordered the full castration of the mukhannathun of Medina. Some versions of the tale say that all of them were forced to undergo the procedure, while others state that only a few of them were; in the latter case, al-Dalal is almost always included as one of the castrated mukhannathun. (See Rowson)

Some variants of the story add a series of witticisms supposedly uttered by the mukhannathun prior to their castration:

Tuways: “This is simply a circumcision which we must undergo again.”

al-Dalal: “Or rather the Greater Circumcision!”

Nasim al-Sahar (“Breeze of the Dawn”): “With castration I have become a mukhannath in truth!”

Nawmat al-Duha: “Or rather we have become women in truth!”

Bard al-Fu'ad: “We have been spared the trouble of carrying around a spout for urine.”

Zillal-Shajar (“Shade Under the Trees”): “What would we do with an unused weapon, anyway?” (Roughgarden, Joan. Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People. University of California Press. p. 363–364.)

In the late 1980s, Mufti Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy of Egypt issued a fatwa supporting the right for those who fit the description of mukhannathun to have sex reassignment surgery. Tantawy seems to have associated the concept with hermaphroditism or intersex individuals. Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran issued similar fatwas around the same time. Khomeini's initial fatwa concerned intersex individuals as well, but he later specified that sex reassignment surgery was also permissible in the case of transgender individuals. (Alipour, M (2016). "Islamic shari'a law, neotraditionalist Muslim scholars and transgender sex-reassignment surgery: A case study of Ayatollah Khomeini's and Sheikh al-Tantawi's fatwas". International Journal of Transgenderism. 17:1: 91–103.)

“homosexuality, in many cases, is indeed fiṭra and in-born and that it, is precisely part of the Creator’s intention.” (Samar Habib, 2008, p. 33) (see Alipour)

Homosexual acts are forbidden in traditional Islamic jurisprudence and are liable to different punishments, including the death penalty, depending on the situation and legal school. However, homosexual relationships were generally tolerated in pre-modern Islamic societies, and historical records suggest that these laws were invoked infrequently, mainly in cases of rape or other "exceptionally blatant infringement on public morals". (See Rowson)

A number of Muslim-majority countries have retained criminal penalties for homosexual acts enacted under British and Soviet rule. (Shafiqa Ahmadi (2012). "Islam and Homosexuality: Religious Dogma, Colonial Rule, and the Quest for Belonging". Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development. 26 (3): 557–558.)

Shafiqah Othman Hamzah elaborates on LGBT in early Islam, as well as the Story of Lut: shafiqahothman.com/2017/04/12/mukhannathun-in-Islam/

Further reading: 

On Western influence with homophobia/transphobia:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/11/asia/british-empire-lgbt-rights-section-377-intl/index.html

On Islam’s initial acceptance and normalization of LGBT+ persons (relationships were meant to be kept private and in homes, but still accepted):

https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/secret-gay-history-islam/

https://amp.economist.com/open-future/2018/06/06/how-homosexuality-became-a-crime-in-the-middle-east

PhD Thesis by Muhammad Abdou (this is the second chapter - full publication is due this year. Also provides bibliography for further research:

https://www.academia.edu/38647128/Ph.D._Thesis_Islam_and_Queer_Muslims_Identity_and_Sexuality_in_the_Contemporary-CH2?email_work_card=title 

Paper on the case of Sayyid-Sally, a trans woman expelled from her school, which goes into the gender breakdown in early Islamic society which includes mukhannathun: 

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/mohamed-jean-veneuse-the-body-of-the-condemned-sally-paths-to-queering-anarca-islam

Rowson on mukhannathun (sorry I misspelled/mispronounced in the video): 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/khtuu1c4m3uob1p/Rowson%2C%20Effeminates.pdf?dl=0

Gesink also has a piece on intersex people in Islamic law showing that legal thinkers recognized 3 genders: 

https://read.dukeupress.edu/jmews/article-abstract/14/2/152/135014/Intersex-Bodies-in-Premodern-Islamic

Article on how the concept of homophobia was introduced to the Middle East: 

Moreover, despite the severe prohibition in the Koran, love and sex between men was very common in Islamic culture.

For example, 15th-century Egyptian historian Al-Maqrizi noted that “among the Mamluke rulers, love of men became so common that the women in the empire began to envy the men and to wear elegant hats in order to imitate them.”

Israeli historian Yaron Ben-Naeh says that, despite the severe Koranic prohibition, “mutual erotic attraction between people of the same sex was seen as a natural feeling and did not arouse guilt feelings or shame among those involved.”

It’s important to note that pre-modern Arab society was not tolerant of “homosexuals.” That’s because the concept “homosexual” appeared in Europe only in the second half of the 19th century, and until the early 20th century there was no such concept, or anything similar, in Arabic-Islamic culture. 

(https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.haaretz.com/amp/world-news/americas/.premium-how-did-homosexuality-become-so-offensive-to-muslims-1.5397722)

Alipour’s PhD thesis on homosexuality in Islam and it’s permissibility:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00918369.2017.1289001

On translator bias in religious texts: 

https://um-insight.net/perspectives/has-“homosexual”-always-been-in-the-bible/

http://shafiqahothman.com/2017/04/12/mukhannathun-in-Islam/ (on translating the word for pederasty and sodomy [anal sex] as homosexuality)

For a breakdown of the Islamic medical diagnostics for Mukhannathun, as well as a more conservative approach, please see: 

muslimmatters.org/2017/07/24/and-the-male-is-not-like-the-female-Sunni-Islam-and-gender-nonconformity/

Product Review: Tuesday in Love/Sweet Zeek Halal Make-up, and Unorthodox Hijabs Rogue Sports Hijab!

Assalaamu alaikum! Today's review encompasses products from THREE sister companies: Tuesday in Love, Sweet Zeek, and Unorthodox Hijabs!

Red polish with taupe accents.

Tuesday in Love originally approached me about doing a review a couple of years ago, but at that point all I knew about their nail polish was the peel-off polish, which I dislike in general. However, since then they started making water permeable polish, so I figured I would give it a go!

Water permeable nail polish is special polish that allows water to reach the nail. Normal nail polish doesn't allow it, which is why we can't wear normal nail polish if we want to make wudhu or ghusl (ritual ablution). However, a polish that allows water to touch the nail means that it does not invalidate wudhu, allowing us to wear it without having to remove it every time we pray! Alhamdulillah! Water permeable nail polish brands which have been tested by halal certification companies will have a Halal marker - if it doesn't have a halal certification (or even if it does), you can test it like I do at the end of the above video. Simply apply two coats of nail polish onto a paper towel. Place a second paper towel underneath, and then apply two drops of water to the center of the polish. Wait 5-10 seconds and then check the back side of the paper towel (and the second one) for wetness!

The polishes from Tuesday in Love I received were Cherry Bomb (red) and Truffle (nude/taupe). Both went on in a similar fashion. The brush is a normal, thin nail polish brush, and the polish has the consistency of most nail polishes. The first coat dries a soft satin, while the second coat takes on more of a traditional satin appearance and shows more shimmer. Without top coat (which I did not have), the polish chipped pretty severely for me within two days. I definitely advise buying top coat for this brand!!! (Comparatively, Orly Breathable brand, which costs less, goes on easier for me and chipped after four days with no top coat, and only after doing my whole curly hair routine.)

One coat (R) vs two coats (L)

Tuesday in Love is NOT just polish! They also have a FULL range of halal makeup products, a range of hijabs and sunglasses, and a section for gifts for men. Definitely check out their full line and see if anything perks your interest!

Sweet Zeek, comparatively, is JUST a lipstick line. The lipstick came with a cute little booklet explaining the idea behind the company (geeky younger sister secretly watches older sister apply lipstick for years, older sister goes to college and leaves younger sister lipstick and a sweet note saying she is a "zeek": someone who is so geeky, they are cool, inspiring her to start this company). All of the lipsticks long-lasting cream lipsticks, alhamdulillah, and they all come with super nerdy names! The one I received was 'Clark Kent', which is the shade of red my foster mom wouldn't let me leave the house in. 😉 The whole line appears to be reds and a couple nudes (in shaa Allah they expand soon!).

"Clark Kent"

I was a little wary trying this out. My go-to lipstick brand is Kat Von D, and I've also used Lipsense in the past, both of which go on really easily and are really long lasting. When I saw that there was some smear to the lipstick, I thought that was it. But BOY did it surprise me! While there is some smear to Sweet Zeek's lipstick, THIS STUFF STAYS ON! Even if I saw a little lipstick on my glass or straw, at the end of the night, my lipstick looked completely untouched. I even slept in it one night out of laziness and it was still there in the morning! Ma shaa Allah! I was completely blown away! At $7 a pop, I DEFINITELY suggest buying some if you like long-lasting lip color and don't mind that you need to blot it before you leave the house.

The final product I received was the "Rogue" sports hijab from Unorthodox Hijabs. The reason Tuesday in Love sent me this product from their sister company is because it has a "niqab-mode," meaning it has a section you are able to pull up to veil the face, while still being the completely breathable and moisture whicking fabric the hijab is made from. Unfortunately I don't have any photos of me in this hijab, simply because it did not fit. (I forgot to take a picture of my friend in it, but will try to do so and add it in!) My friend was able to fit it comfortably. Lesson: Do not buy this hijab if you have unusually long or thick hair! Unfortunately it did not fit me comfortably in either hijab OR niqab mode because my hair is simply just too long and takes up too much space in a bun! However, if you have a more normal amount of hair, this should be completely comfortable for you, in shaa Allah. The "Rogue" hijab only comes in one size - in shaa Allah after this perhaps they will make larger sizes for those of us with either more hair or larger heads - but multiple colors. However, Unorthodox Hijabs has two other full ranges of sports hijabs (sans niqab-mode) with ANTI-SLIP TECHNOLOGY, so check them out for your athletic needs, bi'idnillah!

Jazakum Allahu kheiran everyone! Today's blog review was as short as I expected the video to be (it wasn't). In shaa Allah it was helpful!

Sajida.

Product Review: Asiyah_Umm_Ammar Haul with Qibtiyyah Niqab!

Assalaamu alaikum! Today we are doing a multi-item haul from @Asiyah_Umm_Ammar on Instagram! Please welcome the lovely Alyssa, who will be helping with future videos as well, in shaa Allah.

Brown and pink satin-front underscarves and pink medical mask style niqab. 

So, to start off, @asiyah_umm_ammar is amazing and so sweet! She is based in the UK and ships worldwide. Her main advertisement for her store is that she sells Qibtiyyah niqabs! For those who don't know, Qibtiyyah is a Malaysian brand that is absolutely stunning. I've wanted one for a while, but haven't figured out how to get my hands on one (until now!). As far as I know, Asiyah is the only seller of Qibtiyyah niqabs in the West! I have NEVER before seen anyone selling them. Ma shaa Allah. So lets give her some business, akhiwat!

Asiyah, again, being so sweet, was in between shipments and said she could send me two half niqabs right away, but ended up waiting a week so she could gather a few more items for the package! So instead of just receiving the two gorgeous half niqabs, we also received four underscarves, a medical mask style niqab, a pair of gloves, and a pair of "wudhu socks".

Blue lace cap style underscarf. 

 The underscarves are SUPER comfortable. Alyssa, who is deaf, wears hearing aids. We've run into issues with various underscarves and jilabib where they cause rustling sounds and feedback (electrical ringing) with her hearing aids. Alhamdulillah, the satin-front cap style underscarves are feedback free! She loves them. The way they are made, you are meant to be able to fit your bun underneath the underscarf, but due to the sheer volume of hair I have, I'm unable to do so. However, they fit Alyssa's, medium-length hair perfectly. We received three satin-front ones in pink, brown, and green, and one blue lace one (same style). We also received a pink winter medical mask style niqab, popular in Malaysia. I have one in white that is in a thinner fabric. The pink one is very warm but very comfortable on my ears, much moreso than my white one.

Pink satin underscarf with medical mask niqab.

The colors we received worked out really well for Alyssa and I. Both of us tend to wear a lot of black and have limited selections of colors we prefer to wear. While I prefer pinks, purples, burgundy, and only two specific shades of blue (the bright blue of the underscarf is one!), she prefers greens, blues, and neutrals. As such, it was easy for us to split this haul and now she has her own personal niqab to wear when we go to the masjid!

The niqabs we received were both half niqabs which had ties rather than elastic (which is how my other half niqabs are). We received one black one with rhinestones, which I was super excited to receive, as well as a green one.

The black one is Coperto Malaysia brand. I've wanted a half niqab with rhinestones or glitter for SO LONG. I see them in a lot of pictures of sisters in Malaysia, and they are just so beautiful and elegant. However, like many Malaysian styles, it's difficult for me to find them online, which was why I was so excited Asiyah wanted to send me one! The fabric is thicker than I had anticipated, being a georgette rather than a crepe material, but it's still quite comfortable to wear since I don't generally have issues breathing with niqab. I'm really happy the niqab is comfortable! I was concerned that I just couldn't wear any half niqabs, as the two I already owned had elastic straps rather than ties. Due to my Jew nose (yes, I'm allowed to say this, I'm a Jew!), some things just don't fit well. As you can see in the picture above, the medical mask style niqab sits a little funny. With elastic half niqabs, the fabric ends up digging into the bridge of my nose, causing some pain after a while and also a big red line across my nose! This is because the elastic creates tension and continues to pull the fabric against the nose. In addition to my Jew nose (which I do love, I just don't love the pain it puts me in at times 😅), I broke my nose a year ago, so pressure can still cause some headaches. Alhamdulillah with tied half niqabs, this does not happen with me. I think this is because I can set exactly how tight the niqab is, allowing it to rest on the nose, without additional tension due to stretch. So, now I have a beautiful half niqab that does not cause me pain (unless I get a slight headache due to the break)!

Alyssa, lucky girl that she is, received a Qibtiyyah niqab! It is sooooo soft! Seriously I have never felt a niqab so soft! It's a nice forest green, and the green satin-front underscarf matches with it very well (and the brown compliments it), which is perfect for her since green is one of her favorite colors. The niqab is extremely light weight! It also has ties rather than elastic. The combination of the ties and the light fabric work really well for her as the niqab doesn't put excess pressure on her ears so it doesn't cause migraines. Both of our half niqabs are able to be easily flipped up or pulled down, as well. I feel like I can't write much for this niqab, but only because it's just that good. I can't wait to have a Qibtiyyah brand niqab of my own, in shaa Allah! Seriously guys, they are so luxuriously soft! If you live in the West and want one, alhamdulillah now I a place to recommend you to!

Finally, Asiyah also sent us a pair of touchscreen gloves and a pair of wudhu socks. The touchscreen gloves are elbow-length and white. I wasn't expecting them to work, to be honest, because I'm used to touch screen gloves needing to have special metallic material to work, or to need to be sheer, mesh-like fabric in order to have actual skin contact with the phone. These are an
opaque cotton, very lightweight and very comfortable. Honestly these are the coolest and most comfortable long gloves I own - the other long pairs I have are generally very warm so I can't wear them long unless it's winter. And they work! I was shocked. I think the fabric is what does it, but to be honest I couldn't tell you how this cotton works as touchscreen while other cotton gloves I've used are very difficult to use with my phone. Since I don't wear white, I'll likely be dying these so I can continue to wear them, biidhnillah!

Wudhu socks are socks which do not have to be removed in order to perform wudhu, or ablution! I've only seen these in Malaysian stores like Hijup, presumably because the madhab primarily seen in Malaysia says the feet are awrah and should remain covered. So, these socks make things easier for the Muslimah on the go, in that you can slip the foot outside of the sock without removing the sock, perform wudhu, and then slip the foot back in! Ma shaa Allah it makes things so easy. Alyssa really loved them when she used them and was exclaiming about how awesome they were!

As you can see, the socks feature a folded portion over the toes that can be moved so you can slide the foot out easily. To put them back on, pull the sock back over the foot, readjust the folded portion so it covers the front of the foot, and you are good to go! I've seen these in other colors and as tights as well, so these are a really handy invention!

To check out Asiyah's stuff, head over to her Instagram @asiyah_umm_ammar! She is able to be reached via whatsapp as well, and ships worldwide! It's so hard to find Malaysian goods in the West, so alhamdulillah I've found this wonderful sister! I'm not sure how she does it, but I'm so grateful she is allowing sisters all over to try these beautiful products that they may otherwise not be able to try. In shaa Allah you'll be seeing more from her in the future on my blog!

Jazakum Allahu kheiran everyone! Below are pictures of Alyssa and I in our niqabs and satin underscarves.

Sajida.

Review/Tutorial: Iranian Prayer Chador!

Assalaamu alaikum!

So, generally when it comes to clothing from specific regions, you know I like to do Get Ready With Me videos. However, I felt like that couldn't really be done when it came to chador, so, here we are.

I was sent a prayer chador from the Imam Reza Shrine. They are super awesome and love to send me books and other things, Allahumma barik lahum!

Traditional chador is a semi-circle sheet of cloth. Traditionally, prayer chador appear to generally be white. In the Varzaneh Provence, this is because white is considered to ward off evil, thus it is useful in prayer. Outside of prayer, and outside of the home, chador can be any color, but appears to primarily be black, and tend to be shorter for ease of walking.

Sisters in Varzaneh Provence praying.

Due to the method of prayer for Shia Muslims, with the arms down at the sides or front, praying with a large sheet as a covering is much easier than if one folds the arms as Sunni Muslims do. When I pray using the chador, I tuck one end under an arm in order to help keep it in place. I also recommend wearing at least an underscarf underneath in order to keep the chador from shifting while you pray, and therefor exposing your hair.

We can see general mode of wearing chador may expose some hair.

Sisters walking in traditional chador.

While out, one generally wraps the chador in such a way that it does not come apart while walking. This is similar to the hayek of Algeria (and Tunesia, by another name), but one does not necessarily tie a knot or pin the chador as one would a hayek. I learned how to wrap chador here and adapted it by wrapping it the opposite way, so that my right arm is free rather than my left. However, this leaves maybe one hand free to carry bags or items, and thus the chador has evolved with the younger generation in order to adapt to our busy lives and needs.

Chador with holes for hands. 

Cue new chador and "chador arabi", which have arm holes and sleeves, respectively! These new styles allow greater freedom for holding items and juggling purses, back packs, shopping bags, and whatever else one might need to carry.

These can be found open, like traditional chador, and closed as well (I believe). This makes things so much easier for young sisters in school, and for moms on the go, alhamdulillah! In fact, some have started making prayer chador in similar styles, as shown below.

"Chador Arabi" marketed for wives and mothers.

Child in chador Arabi/sleeved chador.

Shia sisters only raise their hands for takbeer and duaa. 

I wanted also to touch base on how chador is generally worn. While I wear niqab, and you can see it in many surrounding countries, niqab is not typically worn in Iran. The few times I've seen it worn were either by exceptionally religious sisters (I don't know if they are Shia or Sunni, but regardless) who also wear gloves, or on the Day of 'Ashura, while mourning the death of Hussein, radhi'Allahu 'anhu, as I mentioned in my previous post on my niqab. Primarily chador is worn with hijab and modest dress, but the front of the hair can often be seen and this is considered ok, as far as I am aware, or at the very least it is extremely common. According to my friend in Iran, sisters, especially young sisters, who wear chador, are typically pretty religious, so at the very least it is not done with blatant disregard to the Shia interpretation of Fiqh. (Again, I am not well-versed when it comes to Fiqh and Sharia of Shia Islam. This is just my best guess/understanding.).

So, here is all I know on chador! In shaa Allah it was informative and you enjoyed it.

Jazakum Allahu kheiran,

Sajida.

Sister in typical dress with Chador. 

Product Review: Mesh Screen Niqab by Black Crows Boutique!

Assalaamu alaikum everyone! It's been a while, and bi'idnillahi I have LOTS of exciting reviews and collabs coming up shortly!

Our first collaborative review of the new year is with Black Crows Boutique, who gave me EXCLUSIVE access to one of their new designs before they launched their new line, TODAY, on World Hijab Day! Ma shaa Allah what an amazing coincidence! Truly beautiful is the Qadr of Allah al-Alim 'azza w jal! 😊

I received this niqab a few weeks ago and have been wearing it basically every time I leave the house, other than after I had to wash it because my friend kissed my cheek and got chapstick on my niqab (haha!). It's incredibly comfortable, and, REVERSIBLE! Yes this is one of the awesome things about this niqab! Most of my niqabs are meant to be worn a specific direction, but this one appears to be able to be worn either way. The seam work is so beautiful and clean that there is really no visible difference between both sides. What's really nice about this screen niqab is that the screen is actually sewn into the niqab, rather than being a removable screen. This means no having to adjust the screen and no concern with the screen sitting oddly once you flip down your niqab, etc.

The niqab has a nice, thick panel where most niqabs have space for the eye hole. This is because the screen is sewn between a double layer of fabric, making the niqab reversible. It's a nice diamond-eyed shape which reminds me of the screens on Afghan burqas, though obviously this screen is smaller. The niqab itself actually really reminds me of a picture of an Iranian Shi'ite woman during Ashura, wearing a niqab while mourning the death of Hussein, radhi'Allahu 'anhu. It was really moving for me to put on this niqab and immediately have it bring to mind this beautiful image.

The original version of this niqab had a wider mesh, more similar to fishnet pattern. While I wish the niqab still had this type of mesh pattern, I understand that this smaller mesh is preferable to most people. The finer mesh means it is easier for the wearer to see through as the shape of the mesh doesn't draw your eyes' attention. The finer mesh also is really good for light sensitivity, as I've stated in other reviews - on partly cloudy days I don't need to wear sunglasses if I am wearing a niqab with a mesh eye veil.

The niqab is made from the same sort of material used by Sunnah Style and other major brands. I believe they use Korean crepe. This fabric is very soft and comfortable, which makes it perfect for daily wear. The ties on the niqab are nice and thick and long, which makes tying it extremely easy. What is also great about how they sewed in the mesh screen is that it doesn't matter if you tie above your bun or below, it doesn't change the eye shape of the niqab, which is especially useful when it comes to eye veils.

The one major downside to this niqab, I would say, is that it cannot be worn with glasses, at least not with them on the outside of the niqab. Perhaps some would be able to, but I found the sensation of the mesh pressing against my eyelashes to be very bothersome, and since I don't need sunglasses generally while wearing this niqab, I just left them off, while flipping the niqab up in the car to put on sunglasses (car lights are especially bothersome to my light sensitivity).

Black Crows Boutique is giving all of my followers a special discount on their new line! Use the code DISC10 for a 10% discount on your purchase! They make screen niqabs, "make-up" or flap niqabs (for which I've seen really good reviews!), khimur, jilabib, etc. So check them out on Instagram @blackcrowsboutique or Facebook, and also their website once it is open! 
I hope everyone had a wonderful Jummah and World Hijab Day! It is also Freedom Day and Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Day, so here is a picture of me in this lovely niqab and a red hijab in honor of CHD awareness. 💗

EDIT: Website is now open and the entire line is ALL SUPER AFFORDABLE! Alhamdulillah ir-Rabbi il-3alamin!

Jazakum Allahu kheiran,
Sajida.

Product Review: Afghan Burqa!

Photo by Olivier Matyhys

Assalaamu alaikum! In this long-awaited post, I'll be discussing the iconic "Afghan Burqa" and giving information about its reception in the Midwest United States where I live, as well as where one can purchase a burqa!

First let's talk a bit about the burqa itself. Also called "chadri" or "chadari" in Afghanistan and "topi" in Pakistan (topi is the word for hat, thus referring to the top of the garment which is made of a traditional topi hat), the burqa is also closely related to the "paranja," another full-body covering from outside Afghanistan. The composition of the burqa is a long overgarment, generally made of pleated material, combined with a niqab or face veil that also has a grill covering the eyes. It is held together in the front of the body when walking. Most people think of the blue burqa, as this is the most common color, but other colors are used in various places. For instance, white is more common in northern Afghanistan and in Pakistan, from my understanding, while another city sees many burgundy colored burqas and another a golden or mustard yellow. The easiest way to wear it, in my opinion, is with the hair down or braided, as this allows the hat to settle on the head. However, (and this is shown below), you can wear a bun with it though it may look a little weird, in my opinion.

One of the big things that makes the burqa so controversial is the idea that it is a symbol of oppression. While women in Afghanistan were forced to wear burqa during the Taliban regime, the burqa itself existed well before that and continues to be worn - by choice - by many women today, in Afghanistan, some in Pakistan, and even in India. While it causes a lot of tension within the United States, there are sisters who wear burqa here, and there is a US based store which sells burqa online. My own experiences wearing the "Afghan burqa" have been largely positive, alhamdulillah. I live in St. Louis, which is largely diverse, but the way the city is structured is extremely segregated and I have received verbal attacks (and one physical) within my city while wearing niqab, and I know it is worse in more rural and less racially diverse areas. However, while my recent post on Afghan fashion received a few comments which were negative, in person I have only ever received compliments on my burqas, and several people have commented on how beautiful the colors of both of them are, as well as saying I looked beautiful or cute wearing it. Ma shaa Allah, that made me feel so much better about it and while I sometimes still experience anxiety, all-in-all I'm very comfortable wearing it and it's so much easier than finding all of my various pieces! And cooler as well, as you do not need to wear hijab underneath it unless you plan to lift it for some reason. Recently I have done, and still have to do, some photoshoots in the burqa, and the only times I make sure to leave it at home are if I am going to the VA (veterans hospital) or if I am out with one of the people in our home, who has PTSD surrounding the Afghan burqa but has gotten comfortable around me in any other form of full-coverage Islamic dress.

One of the shots from my recent photoshoot.

I have two different burqas. The first one I received is purple. After having tons of difficulty attempting to get a regular blue one (thanks postal service...), I ordered a bright purple one on eBay. The listing for this specific burqa ranges from about $30 + shipping (Zarina's, in select colors), to $52 + shipping (eBay), to $70 + shipping (from Germany). However, I have seen them for up to $100 + shipping if I remember correctly. The difficulty is places where you can buy burqa online tend to either have limited availability or they close temporarily and come back when they have more stock or are no longer being suppressed by the government... (long story but my Afghan fashion video post was censored and blocked on Instagram so only the picture could show. This is only the next thing in a line of things recently... but as I said, long story.) So availability can be sporadic.

My purple burqa

The purple burqa I have was, alhamdulillah, found on eBay for only $12 plus shipping! It had been used, with only one tiny hole barely visible. So I purchased it very quickly (actually I believe it was being auctioned but no one was really opposing my offer). Alhamdulillah this is one of the great things about eBay. Currently there is a golden yellow one in the same style, but with defects, for only $6 + shipping.

While this burqa comes in fun and bright colors, the fabric itself is cheap. I don't mind it too much, mostly as I love the color, and it's very light weight and breathable, surprisingly. However, it's shocking to receive this fabric, which is almost like that of a Halloween costume, on something that normally would run you about $100 full price. On me, the burqa is about the right size, but as I've said probably five million times before, I'm the size of a 12-14 year old girl. So while the burqa is plenty loose on me, it does not fit my co-wife well at all, and she is average size. So these are things one should take into account if you want to purchase this style for the lighter fabric or fun colors.

The blue burqa I received is traditional, and what a woman in Afghanistan would actually wear. The detailing on it is extremely beautiful, the fabric is more plentiful and heavy, and it is really well made. While for most people the extra weight of the fabric may not be an issue, it was something that I had to get used to due to my disabled status, as my muscles are weaker than the average person. The burqa itself is very full on me and my co-wife could easily wear it. It also drags the floor on me, so in order to keep myself from tripping while wearing it, I have had to wear high heels once. Alhamdulillah I'm more stable and can wear heels, even if long clothing such as abaya or burqa is still a big tripping hazard for me some days.

Burqa length on me

With heels, it's fine!

When I ordered the blue burqa from @naaz_boutique, they told me it is a one-size item. However, when my friend Ayshea attempted to get me one, her family asked for my height so they could get me the proper size. So I'm not sure if it's just easier to purchase one that isn't sized, or perhaps, Ayshea's aunt was going to hem the burqa for me (I know she sews and was fixing a niqab fo Ayshea). Regardless, this one on me is very long while the purple one goes just above the floor, and I am aware other sizes DO exist, as little girls wear burqa to practice wearing it for when they grow up.

HOW ADORABLE IS THIS?!

One shipper sells them for $46, when he is open.

So how much did I pay for my really well-made, gorgeous color (and I don't even like blue!), traditional burqa? $30 + shipping! Isn't that a crazy difference?!

If you want another color but are ok with the color being more muted, you can also purchase burqas which look similarly well-made on eBay for anywhere from $46 + shipping to $66 + shipping. Most of the ones on eBay are sold via Pakistan, which appears to have a variant style of burqa/topi that does not have pleated material. The one store I've found that sells Afghan burqa (with pleats) in multiple colors is fastshipper2004 (child burqa above), and he appears and disappears from eBay, so you have to either look for his shop periodically or search 'afghan burqa,' 'burqa topi,' or 'afghanistan burqa' to find him whenever he shows up. His burqas are about $46 plus shipping and available in other colors such as purple or forest green but they are authentic, traditional burqas and appear well-made.

fastshipper2004 purple burqa (with a bun)

Burqa links:

"Tourist" shiny burqa:
- Zarina's (limited colors) starting at $29 (plus camo and US flag chadari for higher price)
- DesertDressOfficial starting at $52 on eBay (plus shipping from UK)
- Kabul Art Gallery at $70 plus shipping (website is in German. Click 'Textilien' on the left to get to clothing.)

Traditional burqa:
- @naaz_boutique for $30 plus shipping (blue only)
- choice2buy.1947 starting at $46 plus shipping (currently only in white or brown)
- pakbestcollection starting at $50 on eBay, plus shipping (other colors such as white, tan, grey, yellow, and black)
- shereh-43 starting at $66 on eBay, plus shipping. (search 'burqa topi'. Hard for me to find a link to give you guys for all of burqa options in their store).

Ok akhiwat! In shaa Allah this has helped you all immensely! If you have further questions or comments, please let me know and I will do my best to help, bi'idhnillah.

Jazakum Allahu kheiran,
Sajida.