Youth Voice August 2009

My Burqa Is None of Your Business

By Ronald Sokol, The New York Times, 07/02/09

Embark on a Journey to Brotherhood

By Neyamatullah Akbar As the dawn of a new day began, so did our journey. It was in the early hours of Friday, June 26, 2009—Fajr time to be exact. The night before, I traveled to my companion’s house to stay there overnight so that it would be easier for me to get to the airport. Before I left my house, however, my parents and my family gave me their blessings and made du’a so that I would have a safe trip to the east coast. So began our journey—waking up in the early hours of the morning, performing wudu and praying Fajr.

- Continued on page 6

A MUNA Youth Publication Page 1

Volume II, Issue 11 August 2009 http://munayouth.org

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

“Verily, the men of knowledge are the inheritors of the prophets.” (Hadith)

Inside

the Voice:Theme of the Month:

TaqwaPages 2-3

Agenda for AugustPage 4

Living MUNA YouthPages 5-6

Opinion ArticlesPage 7

Important NewsPage 8

“The burqa is not welcome in France,” President Nicolas Sarkozy solemnly pronounced in his state of the union message last month. In this he went legally, philosophically and morally astray, although his politics may be sound. An educated guess is that there are no more than a few thousand women in France who wear the burqa or niqab, a loose gown running from head to foot that covers the face with either an opening for the eyes or a veil to hide the face. One can go for months in France without seeing a woman in a burqa. -Continued on Page 8

Taqwa: Built Upon the ‘Aqeedah

www.sa.niu.edu/msa/articles/taqwa.htm

Taqwa is one of the most profound concepts in Islam. Taqwa is an avenue by which Muslims relate to one another in society and a means to channel their actions. Because of the great importance of taqwa, it has been referred to numerous times in the Qur’an and Sunnah in order to emphasize its relevance and significance to the Muslims. Allah (SWT) strongly emphasizes the rewards of people with taqwa in this life and the Hereafter. It is these muttaqeen that Allah (SWT) grants assistance, victory and provides for.

-Continued on page 2

youth voice

Taqwa: Built Upon the ‘Aqeedah www.sa.niu.edu/msa/articles/taqwa.htm


Dr. Sayeed Chowdhury Abu Ahmed Nuruzzaman Abul Faizullah National President, MUNA National Vice President, MUNA National Executive Director, MUNA Arman Chowdhury Abdullah al Ma’mun Rakibul Mazumder National Director, MUNA Youth Editor, Youth Voice Designer & Assistant Editor, Youth Voice

Zakir Ahmed Ashraf Ali Al-Shams Neyamatullah Akbar Contributor, Youth Voice Contributor, Youth Voice Contributor, Youth Voice

If you have any comments or suggestions or would like more information, email us at [email protected]

-Continued from page 1Thus, understanding the concept of taqwa is vital and mandatory for every Muslim. Unfortunately, this is the very concept which the Muslims have left behind, as a result of faulty education. The disbelievers in the distant past, as well as in present times, have understood the importance of taqwa and the Islamic creed, and how it could jeopardize their interests. They realized how taqwa and the Islamic creed (‘aqeedah) were the roots of power for the Muslims. Thus they began to warp and dilute it by adding Greek, Persian and Hindu ideas and philosophies to it. Eventually, the Muslims began to incorporate the false ideas of the body and soul and their interrelationship into the original, pristine Islamic concept of taqwa. As a result, Muslims started portraying a person possessing taqwa as a soft-spoken, elevated, calm, pious, spiritual person, adorned with a certain type of holy attire. A picture of a person who overemphasizes

prayer, fasting, and things such as donating to the masjid, while living a secluded and isolated life would be the one with taqwa, even though the same person would deal with usury, lie and sell alcohol. They began manufacturing their own version of taqwa and fed this false sentiment to the Ummah. In contrast to this distorted picture the Qur’an and Sunnah defines the idea of taqwa as protecting oneself from the Hellfire by following the orders of Allah (SWT) by doing what He (SWT) has commanded and avoiding what He (SWT) has forbidden. Many ayat in the Qur’an point up these ideas, “And unto Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. And, verily, We have recommended to the people of the Scripture before you, and to you (O Muslims) that you (all) fear Allah, and keep your duty to Him, But if you disbelieve, then unto Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and Allah is Ever Rich, Worthy of all praise” [An-Nisa’ 4: 131].

Also, in the Prophet’s (SAW) last khutbah he said, “I ask you to fear Him (SWT), listen to Him (SWT), and obey.” Both the ayahs, as well as the hadith, are commanding Muslims to have taqwa. A person should have taqwa as a barrier between himself and the Anger and Displeasure of Allah (SWT). Through taqwa, the Muslim strives to obey Allah (SWT) and abstains from His prohibitions. The son of ‘Ali (RA), Al-Hasan (RA) once said, “The people who have taqwa (al-muttaqoon) are the people who avoided whatever Allah (SWT) has prohibited and have done whatever Allah (SWT) has ordained.” Umar ibn Abdul Aziz (RA) once said, “Taqwa is not by fasting the day and not by praying the night. And it’s not by mixing between the two of them. But taqwa is leaving what Allah (SWT) has made Haram and by doing what Allah (SWT) has made Fard. After one has done this, Allah (SWT) will provide good things for that person.” A true muttaqoon is a person who strives to possess a solid understanding and knowledge of the rulings of Allah (SWT) through the Qur’an and Sunnah. Without proper knowledge of the Islamic rulings, a person would not know what is asked of him/her. Therefore, it is a must to understand Islam properly as well as to have the proper intention of pleasing Allah (SWT) in carrying out these actions. Imam Ahmad mentioned a hadith, narrated by a Sahabi: A person once asked, “Oh Messenger of Allah, give me some advice.” The Prophet (SAW) responded, “I advise you to fear Allah (SWT) because it is the head of everything.” In another occasion the Prophet (SAW) replied, “Fear Allah (SWT) because it is the collection of all goodness.” Allah (SWT) also promises to be with those who have taqwa. Allah (SWT) says, “Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him, keep their duty unto Him, and those who are muhsinun (doers of good for Allah’s sake only)” [An-Nahl 16:128]. Also, taqwa constitutes a reason, which Allah (SWT) has provided, in order to help one who is experiencing hardship and distress. Allah (SWT) promises, “Whoever fears Allah, Allah will grant him a way out of hardship.” [At-Talaq 65:2] Allah (SWT) also promised forgiveness of sins to those people who are muttaqoon: “And whoever fears Allah, and keeps his duty to Him, He will forgive his sins from him and will enlarge his reward.” [At-Talaq 65:5] Allah (SWT) has given the glad tidings for those who have taqwa. The news of paradise is assured to such people, giving hints at the vast rewards to those who take Allah (SWT) as their Lord in their actions. “Verily those who are fearful of Allah (have taqwa) are the people who,

when an evil thought comes to them from Shaitan, remember Allah, and indeed they then see aright” [Al- A’raf 7:201]. “And he (Muhammad) who has brought the truth and those who believe therein, those are almuttaqoon (the pious and the righteous).” [Az-Zumar 39:33]. Hence, from what Allah (SWT) has outlined through the wahi, we can see that a person who possesses taqwa is not one who lives an isolated life, only praying, fasting and maintaining good character alone. Instead, the muttaqoon are those who fear Allah (SWT) and look to what Allah (SWT) has ordained in carrying out his actions to avoid His (SWT) displeasure and anger. These people are involved with the Ummah, active in their lives, concerned with the affairs of the Muslims, while at the same time they are praying, fasting, spending in Allah’s cause, practicing good morals, and are forgiving. All these descriptions can be attributed to a person who has taqwa. “O Prophet! Keep your duty to Allah, and obey not the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Verily! Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise. And follow that which is inspired in you from your Lord. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do. And put your trust in Allah, and Sufficient is Allah as a Wakil (Trustee, or Disposer of affairs)” [Al-Ahzab 33:1-3].


1st Week• Introduction•Dars al-Quran: Al-Hujraat (49:13-15)• Personal Portfolio Presentation & Analysis•Organizational Portfolio Presentation & Analysis•Academic Action Plan & Review• Ehthesab •Miscellaneous (Remember to have Primary Members’ meeting)•Du’a

2nd Week• Introduction •Dars al-Qur’an: Al-Imran(3:101-103) • Presentation of Hadith •Discussion/Presentation on the Topic of the Month •Words of Wisdom (from a MUNA Guest)•Miscellaneous (Can use this week as a large da’wah program) •Du’a

3rd Week• Introduction •Recitation of the Qur’an with meaning: At-Taubah (9:116-120) • Presentation of Islamic Literature: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Taqwa)•Miscellaneous •Du’a

4th Week• Introduction •Recitation of the Qur’an with meaning: Al-Hashr (59:17-21) • Presentation of topic: Video presentation on Taqwa - Br. Nouman

Ali Khan gives a khutbah (See link below)•Miscellaneous •Du’a

* If you can, try to seat in a tajweed class at least weekly. All subchapters should focus on developing every participant’s ability to read the Holy Qur’an properly.

* (See 4th Week above) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNn6NgOTKpU&feature=PlayList&p=DFAE686FBA73B0EC&index=0

Dr. Sayeed Chowdhury Abu Ahmed Nuruzzaman Abul Faizullah National President, MUNA National Vice President, MUNA National Executive Director, MUNA Arman Chowdhury Abdullah al Ma’mun Rakibul Mazumder National Director, MUNA Youth Editor, Youth Voice Designer & Assistant Editor, Youth Voice

Zakir Ahmed Ashraf Ali Al-Shams Neyamatullah Akbar Contributor, Youth Voice Contributor, Youth Voice Contributor, Youth Voice

If you have any comments or suggestions or would like more information, email us at [email protected]

The Youth Voice is published by Muslim Ummah of North America

The August Agenda Theme: Taqwa


Power Camp ‘09By Kazi Shumon

There were balconies on every floor. The attic had two couches with a telescope on the balcony,

from which the view was breathtaking and softened the heart by inducing

thoughts of Allah’s (SWT) greatness. There were three bathrooms, each equipped with a shower and only the master bathroom on the top floor containing a Jacuzzi. The basement had a pool table, an air-hockey table, and even a poker table. But these details are just some specs of the house, mere appetizers for the satisfying experience of the Power Camp ‘09. These are only descriptions of what was basically a shelter, a structure whose walls served only to separate us from the vast and gorgeous wilderness of the Poconos Mountains. What matter more are those who were living inside the house. Upon arriving at 75 Buckhill Road in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania, the brothers met new and old faces. MUNA Youth administration had selected thirty-two aspiring young individuals from places all over the nation, including California, Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. Immediately, this camp displayed the unity

of the youth with diverse backgrounds in their efforts to do something good, maybe even great. The next day, presentations began. Each Power Camper was to present a PowerPoint slideshow that he had prepared on the particular chapter assigned to him from Khurram Murad’s In the Early Hours. The overall theme of the book and as well as Power Camp was Tazkiya (purification), personal development and growth towards becoming more righteous and an active and positively contributing member of society. From the oldest speakers to the youngest, the most professional prsenters to the not-so-professional, everyone shared something in common—the experience of teaching. While

a brother spoke before his beloved peers, the rest learned what Tazkiya entailed—focusing on Jannah, constantly doing dhikr, loving Allah (SWT), controlling and eliminating evil characteristics, holding dear the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his Sunnah, spending in the way of Allah (SWT), respecting parents, family, children, neighbors, employees, bosses, animals, the rest of Allah (SWT’s) creation, and always remembering death. With one lesson after another, MUNA youth’s presenting and speaking skills became apparent. Indeed these were the leaders of tomorrow, al hamdulillah. These PowerPoint slideshows were not the end of all the presentations. High ranking MUNA officials, such as National Vice President Abu Ahmed Nuruzzaman, MUNA Youth Director Arman Chowdhury, and MUNA Youth Assistant Director, Abdullah al-Ma’mun gave presentations and

delivered workshops of their own on a variety of topics regarding the goals and agendas of MUNA Youth. Also, various guests visited the Power Camp site, such as the East Zone and New York City Zone Vice Presidents who joined the Power Campers and wished them well with their advice and du’as. To see these and other presentations from the Power Camp 2009 for yourself, check out MUNA Youth’s youtube page, and do not forget to tell others about it and subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/user/MUNAYouthVideo. On one of the nights, we had a movie session during which we watched Amistad, an inspiring film that was produced in 1997. It centers on an African slave named Cinqué who leads a rebellion on a Spanish slaveship and ends up on the Eastern Coast of the United States. There he fights for his freedom through the American judicial system with his good friend and attorney, Roger Baldwin. After

meeting obstacle after obstacle, each own greater than the previous, they finally succeed. MUNA Youth administration decided to show this movie at Power Camp because it teaches important lessons about struggling

for truth and justice in the face of adversity. Cinqué faced all kinds of challenges, posed by his status as a slave, the chains around his feet on the ship, his inability to speak English, the guns owned by the Spanish crew, the unwillingness of the American government to grant him and his fellow African slaves freedom, and severe discrimination by everyone around him. The next day, we discussed the movie and the ways in which our struggle as Muslim Americans and as MUNA Youth mirrors, to some degree, that of Cinqué and the other slaves. For example, we also face discrimination and rejection of the truth, which we know as al-Islam. But just as Cinqué never gave up and kept on fighting along with this perseverant friend Mr. Balwin, we need to overcome any challenges, especially by associating ourselves with those who truly believe and support our deen and who will firmly stand up for its righteous

message no matter what. The brothers in the discussion decided that we have our own story, just as Cinqué had a story which he told in the U.S. Supreme Court, and our tale starts with the creation of MUNA and MUNA Youth in this country and will end in the fulfillment of the organization’s agenda, insha’allah. Of course, this fulfillment will only be possible if we successfully overcome, with patience and determination, the obstacles we face and will continue to face as long as we try to promote the beautiful ideals of Islam in society. In addition to the presentations and the discussion, we had two workshops that allowed for interactive learning.

-Continued on next page

-Continued from previous pageThe Youth Director, Brother Arman, ran onw workshop, focusing on ways to give da’wah and the types of people we should invite. Brother Ma’mum, the Assistant Youth Director, ran the other, focusing on the method of carrying out the weekly halaqas/programs in our communities. But all this seriousness and instruction did not take away from the fun on the beach. Every day, from mid-afternoon until early evening, all the guys enjoyed shooting on the basketball court and spiking the ball past the volleyball net. And after all the sweating, running and jumping, everyone jumped into the water to cool off. We separated into teams and played a competitive game we unofficially made up rules for and named “water-football.”

Even Br. Arman and Br. Mamun exposed their competitive sides as they played for their teams. Whether it’s academics or sports, MUNA Youth is active and always energetic. We definitely work hard together and we play hard too, even against each other. But at the end

of the day, we are still the closest of brothers. The one thing that we all could not get enough of was the food, especially since we had chefs of our own. Even the tuna sandwich served during the movie session was exceptional, to the extent that those who thought they did not like tuna changed their minds. Al hamdulillah, we ate something different and delicious every day and in every meal. Power Camp 2009 was superb in all aspects— comfort, adventure, unity, education, personal improvement, sports and games, and camaraderie. Insha’allah, these exceptional brothers will go back to their communities and become the leaders we know they can be, pushing society in a more positive direction. Only the food won’t be as good there.


Workshops: The Presentation AlternativeBy Ashraf Ali Al-Shams

I have just returned from a trip to the Poconos: a breathtaking view, a shimmering lake, and the smell of

daisies lingering on my nostrils. But even so, escaping to a mountainside resort for the sake of Power Camp 2009 remained the focus of my trip. Prior to my arrival, my superiors instructed me to prepare a presentation on the book, In the Early Hours, by Khurram Murad. This form of collective education best served the interests of this year’s camp participants. Students gained extensive knowledge and understanding from each other’s presentations and formed their personal goals in the path of Islam. In the midst of educational development, participants were also involved

in workshops prepared by brothers Abdullah al-Ma’mun and Arman Chowdhury. Al hamdulillah, Allah (SWT) provided me an opportunity to take part in these workshops. The camp participants were split into two groups. Interaction played a major role in the facilitation of these workshops. All participants were requested to get involved in the core discussions held. One workshop also relied on a demonstration in order to fully allow participants to engage and comprehend the task at hand. I participated in brother Arman Chowdhury’s workshop on The Process of Dawah and Development first. The group ascended a flight of stairs and got cozy in

chairs and sofas adorning a wood-crafted living room. The comfortable setting provided a stronger intimacy among the participants. With my notebook on my lap and my pen in hand, I prepared myself to jot down notes, ideas, and my contributions to the discussion. Brother Arman opened the floor by requesting the participants to introduce some ayahs that provide the foundation for the first of MUNA Youth’s four agendas: Invitation (Da’wah). He then referred to Surah al-Imran as a reminder of our responsibility as Muslims to carry out daw’ah. I quickly jotted down notes as Brother Arman spoke, as he mentioned da’wah’s requirements: planning, thinking and vision. He went on to mention how da’wah can be practiced by both personal and collective efforts. By taking a step-by-step approach, the Muslim community can grow to include intelligent, affluent, sincere, and talented individuals. With that said, Brother Arman proceeded to open the floor once more, asking brothers how we could begin with the da’wah process. Brother Jabed of New Jersey was quick to mention the importance of defining MUNA Youth’s presence in our communities. “It is our responsibility,” Brother Jabed said, “to go to our local Masjids and Community Center and let the Imam or Committee know that there is a place the youth can go to.” This was met with great clamor and approval among the participants with Brother Arman chiming in: “Get active with your local Masjids and mark your presence. Hold your programs in the Masjid and get noticed. Simple acts like these are da’wah in and of themselves.” We reached half-time and the teams switched places so that my group could take part in Abdullah al-Ma’mun’s workshop on Program Management. Brother Ma’mun insisted on emphasizing the necessity for consistency. Without consistency, our programs and all related activities will alter course and break down. Sticking to the

MUNA Youth Manual, Brother Ma’mun mentioned the necessities: a short, 45 minutes-to-an-hour program, a notebook for the purpose of recording attendance, an agenda, pre-planning, discipline and financial records. Participants were inquired about the importance of gaining rank. For continuous growth of the subchapter, it is important that the President works with the other brothers in order to help bring members up the chain of command. Brother Ma’mun then proceeded to set up a mock-program with half the participants taking notes and the other half playing roles. In the midst of laughter and fun, it was easy to grasp the understanding of what a program should consist of and

how our own subchapters should be run. After the completion of the workshops, I was surely impressed. Lectures and presentations can be a great learning experience, but they are no match for the hands-on, active discussions held in workshops. Because of the insight provided by the participants and instructors, all of the members benefitted from one other’s knowledge. The moderator helps with the flow of the discussion, and overall, everyone is able to learn in an effective and easy way. I pray that in the near future, MUNA Youth will include more workshops for brothers to participate in. The relaxing, intimate environment and lively discussions make it all worthwhile.


Embark on a Journey to Brotherhood By Neyamatullah Akbar

-Continued from page 1As we performed salah, I felt such a soothing relief, an indescribable sensation. The cold breeze of the morning really opened up the mind for introspection—especially when we laid our foreheads on the ground as we glorified the Supreme Lord of the Worlds. It was indeed a moment of bliss and felicity. Al hamdulillah, after prayer we had breakfast, just some regular desi food: parathas and chicken tandoori along with curry that aunty had prepared for her son and I. Afterwards, we headed out to the airport—LAX, or the Los Angeles International Airport. It was the first time my companion was traveling without his family, so they were quite worried. Anyway, after we printed out our boarding passes we headed towards our gate, but first we had to pass through TSA, the Transport Security Agency. That was when we had to bid farewell to my friend’s family at the airport. Then we went through TSA and had our bags and everything else checked.

Once that was done, we got ourselves ready to go to the gate and wait to board the aircraft. As the time slowly passed, we talked about what we were going to do after reaching our destination. Then we boarded and stowed away all our carry-on luggage, and soon it was time for departure. I always enjoy looking out the window when the plane is ready to take off. You can see all the people working really hard to help the pilot drive away from the gate and onto the runway. It demonstrated that people must work together and be organized and determined just to get one plane off the ground. It is just as an organization must be organized and determined to be successful. As the aircraft reached the runway and turned on its engines, it was ready for takeoff, one of my favorite parts of a plane ride. As the plane went into super-speed mode, I looked out the window and observed the landscape. As the plane took off into the sky, I felt the pressure in my ears and I popped them out. Then I closed my eyes and enjoyed the rest of the flight. After we landed in another state for a pit stop, we bought our lunches. We went to a Subway and got some sandwiches. But first we prayed two rakahs of Dhur and two rakahs of ‘Asr instead of the usual four rakahs because we were traveling. Then we had to board the plane because we were running a little late. Al hamdulillah, after we took off from our pit stop we once again headed towards our destination. Little did we know that this flight was going to be one of the longest flights ever. The landing was delayed because of severe weather conditions—thunderstorms and hail. We had to have a second landing to refuel the plane and then wait for the skies to clear up so that we could take off once again. During this period of waiting, we conversed with complete strangers about random ideas, just so the time would fly by quicker. Our patience was tested a lot because we had to sit and wait in the plane for two hours! Later on, we were finally cleared for departure. We all applauded in the plane. As we descended to our destination, the lights of New York City gleamed in our eyes while we looked out the window. It was glamorous and beautiful. When we finally landed, the passengers on the plane applauded again. Then we got off the plane and went to the terminal to wait for our ride. However, the traffic in the city caused another delay. It was around 10:40 PM. We contacted the brothers who were picking us up, and they told us that they were trying to get to the airport as soon as possible. Al hamdulillah, they picked us up at 12:25 AM. After that, we got into the Dodge Charger and hit the road from La Guardia Airport to Poconos, Pennsylvania. During this time, the two brothers that picked us up comforted

us so much. We thank them with utmost sincerity for that. Jazakkallah Brothers. As we traveled down the road, we sharedso many jokes and experiences. We talked about our two sides of the United States—the west coast, where we were from, and the east coast, where the two brothers were from. We discovered many differences. For example, a common phrase in the west coast, “that’s tight,” means something is cool. However, in the east coast, the term “tight” is synonymous with the term “angry.” Also, as we traveled down the road, I had a major leg cramp, and once again, the brothers were very kind and pulled over on the side of the highway so I could walk off the pain. Al hamdulillah, I was fine. Then we continued our journey, enjoying ourselves. By the time we reached the site in Poconos, Pennsylvania, it was 3:30 AM. Al hamdulillah, we had a great journey getting to our destinatio. Brotherhood is an immense part of our deen, and on this journey, we experienced brotherhood like no other.


Our Fallen BrothersBy Muaz Rahman

Devastation. Crisis. Catastrophe. Disaster. These terms barely come close to describing the

troubles and calamities that Muslims around the world are facing almost everyday of their lives. The focus constantly shifts from one place to another, Like a revolving door which only stops when hit with a counteracting force. This downward spiral largely began from the aftermath of 9/11. After this crisis, Muslims were being humiliated, looked down upon, and stereotyped all over the world.

It started in the United States and is now being felt by the Muslim world at large. Asthe prophet (SAW) stated in a hadith, more or less, the Muslim Ummah is like a brick house and whenever one part of that house is struck by a calamity the whole house feels the pain. And now, this calamity has fallen upon the Muslim minority who reside in the country of China. They are known as Uighurs—a Turkic people who are largely Muslim. Many of them live in the city of Urumqi, which is located in the western Xinjiang province. For years, these Uighur Muslims complained

of economic, cultural and religious discrimination by the Chinese government and people, particularly the Han Chinese. It all began after a brawl between the Han Chinese and Uighur factory workers in Southern China. Apparently, the consequence was the death of two Uighurs. The momentum this event carried was enormous, and it was clearly displayed during the riots that took place on the 5th of July, a Sunday. During the day, Uighurs came out on the streets of Urumqi and protested the government handling of the brawl between the factory workers and the Han people. They accused the government of not looking very deeply into the case and being biased and unfair to the Uighur population. The casualties of the day were huge: more than 180 dead and 1,680 wounded. The Uighurs were confronted with deadly force, mostly from the Chinese army, and were being restrained, arrested, and even killed. The Chinese government went so far as to come out on the Tuesday of the following week and send out the army in order to take revenge upon the Uighur people. Following the disaster, the Chinese government was quick to blame the exiled separatists and Muslim militant groups for their actions and even tried to restrict information by stifling the Internet. The oppression that the Uighurs faced that day were tremendous and is something that cannot be overlooked by the Muslims in the rest of this world. Rather, it should be spoken out against and the Chinese government should be regretful of their actions. But for this to happen, unity in the Muslim world is key and the main source of power, which, if put into play, can create a force that can overtake and sway the entire world. For truly, this is the epitome of the brick house

that the Prophet (SAW) spoke of 1400 years ago. Unfortunately, almost no nation has spoken out against the Chinese government, not even from the Muslim world, largely because it would have been against the great nation of China. As of now, China has ties with many nations around the world and supplies them with resources and goods that are extremely vital to their well-being. The Uighurs were in conflict with the wrong country. These Uighur Muslims were killed for almost no reason at all and it was their right

to protest against the oppression that they were facing. In fact, the Chinese government made sure that the Han Chinese migrants outnumbered the Uighurs in the western Xinjiang province where Urumqi is located. As Muslims, we are all responsible in the sense that we must respect and fulfill the rights of every Muslim and support and defend them even in times of crisis and despair. This is our duty and we have to go out of our way in order to fulfill them. These Muslims in Urumqi need our support and we should be eager to give them what is due.

Covering one’s face from the view of others is a way of protecting one’s anonymity. The right to

anonymity, if there is such a right, is closely linked to the right of privacy that is guaranteed by the French civil code and by the European Convention on Human Rights. On public streets or in an outdoor market, one’s anonymity enjoys legal protection from photographers. Other than permitting identification, there would appear to be no legitimate public interest in compelling people to expose their faces. Dress codes do exist in France as elsewhere, but their enforcement is through social custom rather than law. There are no obligatory vestimentary rules in France outside of prisons and, to a limited extent, schools. What is odd is the sudden French zeal for conformity, for no country has shown more respect than France for the uninhibited expression of individuality. It runs like a musical theme from François Villon in the 15th century to Georges Brassens in the 20th. Yet on nothing more than the quicksand of intuition President Sarkozy concluded that the burqa symbolizes women’s submission. France’s highest court in administrative matters, the Council of State, reached the same conclusion just a year ago when it denied citizenship to a woman who has lived in France for eight years, speaks perfect French, has a French husband and four children born in France, on the sole ground that she wears a burqa. The court, like the president, felt that wearing a burqa conflicts

with the principle of the equality of the sexes. Yet there exists no legal inferiority. A woman wearing a burqa enjoys the same legal rights as any other person in France, including the right to divorce. If there is no legal inferiority, perhaps the submission invoked by the president and the court is a psychological submission. If so, they have rushed in where angels fear to tread. An adolescent girl who starts to smoke submits to psychological peer pressure. So too those who sport baggy trousers or skin tight jeans, wear tattoos or go in for piercing, face-lifting, breast enhancement and a myriad of other practices just as offensive to some as the burqa is to others. Is the working wife who does the laundry submitting psychologically to a feminine stereotype incompatible with the French principle of gender equality invoked by Mr. Sarkozy and the French supreme court? Can government intrude that deeply into how men and women interact and organize their lives? The analogy that the president seemed to have in mind is that of a sect whose members are so brainwashed that they have lost all power to free themselves from exploitation. But there is no evidence that women in France who wear burqas are victims of a sect or are exploited. Many wish to see the burqa as a badge of feminine oppression. They seem to feel that by removing the dress the purported oppression will vanish and the person’s true voice will be found. Yet no evidence shows that women in France who wear burqas are forced to wear them, or have low self-esteem, or are unable to exercise their legal rights. The political clamor to ban the burqa is not an evidence-based policy. It is a misguided effort to enhance the status of women grounded in speculation about what a woman hidden in a burqa must feel. Yet whatever she feels will certainly not be changed by a law telling her what not to wear. And were there a law, how would it be enforced? Would there be a fine for wearing a burqa? Would there be clothes police? The whole notion is reminiscent of the prohibitions applied to women in Afghanistan before the Taliban lost power. While the burqa has become a useful political distraction, it could be turned into a symbol of a state that welcomes diversity. It could exemplify a state that knows that its role is to promote equality, protect diversity and forbid discrimination. Mr. Sarkozy has done more to enhance that role than any of his predecessors, but on the issue of the burqa he has gone seriously astray. A state that proclaims democratic values cannot justify telling its residents what to wear or not to wear any more than it can justify telling them what to think or what to

say or to which god to pray when no harm comes from the behavior, save the shock felt by those whose views and customs differ. Until evidence is forthcoming that wearing a burqa poses a clear and present danger, President Sarkozy is tilting a lance not at the devil but at an old windmill. The devil does not wear burqa.


My Burqa Is None of Your BusinessBy Ronald Sokol, The New York Times, 07/02/09

Documents

Youth Voice August 2009