Monday, November 23, 2009

Thoughts from a food kitchen

In the Name of Allah, The Most Kind The Most Merciful

I was at a soup kitchen this weekend. There's this group of muslims who have started doing this all over the country, Mashallah, muslimsagainsthunger.com. A few observations. First of all, I think there is more than enough food to feed everyone all over the world. It's just that people in general (and yes, myself included) are too greedy and selfish. If humanity were to put it's mind to it, I'm sure hunger could be eliminated overnight.

Secondly, a lot of the sisters doing this were not wearing hijab. A lot of people - sadly, myself included sometimes - seem to make an instant judgement on a sister based on whether or not she wears hijab. These were sisters here who were not only giving up their precious weekend time to help the poor and hungry, but also bringing in their kids to help. Everytime their kids do anything like this, for the rest of their lives, their mother will share in the reward. And the Prophet(SAW) said that "The most beloved person to Allah is the one who benefits mankind the most". And bear in mind that not every hijabi wearer is an angel. I'm sure we all know hijabi wearers who are very lax about their salat. Salat is much, much more important than hijab. Don't get me wrong, hijab is important, and is an obligation on women, and I find women wearing hijab to have an awe of beauty. But next time you rush to judge a sister who does not wear a hijab, think twice. And if you're a guy, start by counting the number of women you yourself gawked at today.

Finally... it was amazing to see people helping each other, regardless of color, creed or anything else. There are people all over the world, across all nations, across all religions, who seem to think that war and fighting is the answer to everything. Bearing in mind the hadith I just mentioned above, it would be a much better world if we all tried to benefit each other.

4 comments:

  1. in western world hiijab is great test for each muslima. There are plenty of examples where women have been harrassed or even killed for wearing a headscarf and in muslim countries for not wearing hijab. Only God will judge women - for what's in their heart not what they are wearing. - Good on you to visit a soup kitchen!

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  2. This is a very good blog and a good post!

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  3. SubhanaAllah! So true.

    Asalaamu alaikum
    I could go on and on about the sins, language; and behaviors I have seen in islamically dressed women (I won't on here though since I too, am not without sin) but I myself was not a hijab wearing sister up until recently and I made my prayers, helped who I could and did good deeds. (Not as a bragging example just for the sake of the topic)

    Islamic clothing comes from the heart, wheather it's a fringe showing hijab, a convertible hijab (on and off) or a neck revealing one, They are on their way AlhamduliAllah! With knowledge comes the desire and ease to do "the right thing" no matter what the thing may be.

    Great post!

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  4. Ma sha Allah. During Ramadan, I volunteered at a Muslim event and sisters in what some would term "proper hijab" were in the minority. It's a wonder that the outward displays of piety do not always manifest in action.

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