To Ibn Kafka

I'm sorry I couldn't reply to you sooner.  I've had a lot going on this past week - a combination of being sick, juggling responsibilities and adjusting to a new job, but I'm slowly coming out of it.

Regarding Hijab Chique you said:

""What really bugs me is when women start making demands in the workforce" - odd stance for a feminist, wouldn't you say?

More seriously, employees have rights too, and a balance has to be struck between the employees' individual rights, among them the right not to be discriminated on account of their beliefs, and the employers' rights to run his business. In most countries, even in "ultra-laïc" France, employees have the right to wear a headscarf, on certain conditions. I suppose that "hijab sexy" or "hijab chique" will be more easily accepted, because they are more elegant, than "hijab wahabi" or "qubeisiya" - but that will always have to be decided on a case-by-case basis."

What's really odd Ibn Kafka, is that you classify me as a feminist.  The way I see it, feminism favors one gender over the other, if you really knew me you would know that I don't subscribe to gender politics, I'm a humanist, I strongly appose gender apartheid, particularly the gender apartheid imposed by Islam, regardless which gender it's imposed on. 

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I personally think that in general, we have gone way beyond the issue of hijab already, the fad is here already and it's here to stay it seems like.

What we really need to focus on is Muslim organizations that constantly politicize Islamic affairs on behalf of all Muslims and tell them to shut up already or mind their own business.  Organizations like CAIR and the The Muslim Council in Britain for instance, do more harm than good in representing Muslims.  It is because of their ilk that we now have Islamofascism Awareness Week and the Stop Kuffarphobia! Demonstration.

The trouble with Islam is that it has too many faces (both good and bad) and it sadly lends itself to be used and manipulated for political purposes more than anything else and Muslims seem to be OK with that.

I strongly appose the generally rigid stance of Muslims with their approach to all things Islamic.  My criticism in this case is directed for the most part at Muslims living outside their countries of origin.  They tend to come off as intolerant, unforgiving, uncompromising and sometimes extremely demanding on religious and cultural issues while conveniently enjoying the freedoms and benefits of living in their host countries/adopted homelands. They generally present an image of Islam that is quite contrary to the Islam I was brought up with.  For instance, why demand prayer facilities in schools or at the work place when Islam allows you to catch up with your prayers later at a more convenient time and place?  Why demand halal foods at the local supermarket, at schools and at the workplace when Islam allows you to have nonhalal foods when there is no alternative (as long as it's not pork)?  Why demand the building of mosques when you can pray at home or just about anywhere else?  The list of demands is incredibly long and extremely annoying.

The Koran instructs Muslims to be good citizens, to be righteous and be good to their neighbors, and when living in strange lands to be goodwill ambassadors by complying to local rules and norms unless they are forced to do things that are haram, and if they are forced to do things that are haram they are advised to try to get the rules changed or better yet, simply leave and go live elsewhere where the local rules and norms do agree with their religion and culture as if they were in their own homelands.  Not wearing a scarf/hijab is not haram.  The Koran does not require women to wear hijab, the Koran merely recommends it.  If the hijab is worn as a political/fashion statement then I'm strongly against it because to me it represents an ideology that is oppressive and cruel and loses its spiritual aspect altogether.

And let there be amongst you a group of people who invite to goodness, encouraging that which is right and forbidding that which is wrong; it is they who are the successful
[Quran 3:104].

Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in God and the Last Day, and do good deeds, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve (Quran 2:62 and 5:69).

Whoso migrateth for the cause of Allah will find much refuge and abundance in the earth, and whoso forsaketh his home, a fugitive unto Allah and His messenger, and death overtaketh him, his reward is then incumbent on Allah. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. (Quran 4.100)